B-N Group Limited, which recently acquired the assets of Britten-Norman Limited, has been forced to cease its operations from the Bembridge, Isle of Wight airfield. This follows action by bailiffs representing the owner of part of the landing field at Bembridge.

Bob Wilson, executive director of B-N Group, told EBAN: "Our reaction was one of complete surprise, not least of great disappointment. If you bear in mind that the new company was only a month old, we thought the negotiations were proceeding in a satisfactory and constructive manner and we weren't aware of any delays that were down to us or indeed to them.

"Whilst we can speculate on the various aspects of the negotiations that may have led to this, there was nothing that we were aware of that should have triggered it."

A spokesman for the B-N Group added: "We are extremely disappointed that we are obliged to close our operations at the airport just as we are about to put all necessary resources behind the business.

"We very much regret the Landlord's decision to send in the bailiffs at a crucially sensitive stage of the negotiations. Negotiations are now in hand to find alternative airport facilities."

B-N Group says that other parts of its business will continue as normal. These include various aspects of product support, technical publications and the manufacture and the supply of spare parts to the existing fleet of aircraft worldwide. Concluded Wilson: "It's very early days but we are putting every effort into making sure that we've got options behind us so that we can continue our everyday business."