Flying Colours Corp. Breaks Ground on Phase 1 of a $3.5 Million Expansion Plan
Flying Colours Corp. the Canadian completions, refurbishment and maintenance specialist has broken ground on the first phase, of a three phase expansion plan, at its Peterborough, Ontario headquarters. An investment of over $3.5 million dollars will expand the company’s footprint and increase its large cabin completion and maintenance capabilities at its Peterborough Airport facility.
With the steel framework now in place, 20 000 square feet is being added to one of the company’s existing three hangars. The existing hangar is currently accommodating a long term project that will see eight Bombardier CRJ 200 regional airliners converted to 16 seat corporate shuttle configurations. This is the first executive shuttle configuration programme Flying Colours has undertaken and reflects the company’s ambitions to widen its offering to the aviation market place.
Phase one is due for completion in the first quarter of 2014, and whilst large enough to accommodate wide body aircraft, the new building will initially be utilised to increase Flying Colours Corp.’ refurbishment and maintenance capabilities for pre-owned large cabin size aircraft, particularly on the Bombardier Global and Challenger 870 families. It is anticipated that the additional space will also be used for a number of special mission programmes including the fulfilment of a multiple aircraft contract for modifications to seven CRJ 700/CL870 airframes destined for Asia. The new structure will be equipped to handle refurbishment projects, avionics installations and upgrades, heavy maintenance projects and full interior completions. “This is a major step in the application of our future strategy for Flying Colours Corp.,” says Sean Gillespie Executive VP, “We have built an extremely robust business, with an international client base that values our full service offering in terms of completions and maintenance. We have quite simply run out of space to accommodate all the requests received so have implemented this extensive development project to accommodate current and future work load. When phases one to three are complete the additional hangar space will enable us to work on the Airbus ACJ fleet, Boeing Business Jet family and the state-of-the-art CSeries models. We are adding a total of 65, 000 square feet to our facility and are very excited about the new possibilities.”
Phases two and three, which are expected to complete in 2015, will incorporate further additional hangar space of approximately 45,000 sq.ft and will incorporate an additional large cabin hangar, increased shop space for maintenance and interior workshops, and a new down draft paint facility. Flying Colours is anticipating that the increased capacity will require a bolstering of its workforce by 30% increase creating 60-70 new jobs at the Peterborough location. It has already begun recruitment activity to source new team members with the right skills and knowledge. Once the final phase of building is completed at Peterborough, Flying Colours Corp. will explore the options for expansion at their US facility which is already running regularly full workshops.
Flying Colours Corp. and newly renamed sister company Flying Colours Corp. KSUS (formerly JetCorp Tech Services Inc) will be exhibiting at this year’s NBAA 2013 where it plans to talk up the existing maintenance activity and promote its new approvals. One year on from achieving Bombardier ASF status, Flying Colours Corporation has also achieved the coveted AS9100 certificate for quality and safety management for the aerospace industry; has been appointed by aircraft improvement manufacturer, Raisbeck Engineering as an Authorized Sales and Installation Centre for the entire King Air product line; and in March achieved Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre status for Canada for the entire King Air, Baron and Bonanza product lines which complements its existing status as an authorised service centre for Waco-based Blackhawk Modifications Inc.
Visit Flying Colours at the NBAA 2013 convention, Oct 22 to 24 - Booth N6227
