Aviation engineering section to close

by GD Wed 06 Aug 2008, 7:25 pm

The engineering section of Aviation Beauport in Jersey is closing down with the loss of around a dozen jobs.

Boss Greig Graham says the division has been losing money heavily. He says a number of factors have combined to make the business unviable. It will cease operating at the end of next month.

The most recent blow was the cost of cerification under new European aviation rules which now apply locally. A year ago the licence was £1,300, today it's 27,000 euros.

Other factors include the high cost of living in Jersey; local employment regulations and a global shortage of aero engineers. Of the staff given notice in Jersey, many had trained in the 1970s and two had been brought out of retirement.

The division has been carrying out a limited amount of maintenance work for Blue Islands.(from CIonline)