Demolition work is well underway on the first phase of Signature’s London Luton expansion. The whole project has been given a completion date of May 1, 2003 and will include over 70,000 square feet of hangar space and 13,500 square feet of office space. “We’re currently flattening what we had there already. The airport offices have all but gone, the building alongside our hangar has gone and the hangar is due to go this week,” said managing director Trevor King.

The hangar expansion means Signature will be able to house up to six BBJs at any one time. “The space is almost certainly needed, we are absolutely packed out at the moment. It’s also a security measure, which people are more concerned about now. Customers like to have their aircraft hangared at night time if possible,” explained King.

This is the largest investment the company has made at its Luton facility for between 15 and 16 years.

It represents a general move by BBA Aviation to invest in Signature, in a response to increased demand

from customers.

“The project is ongoing. Once it’s all been flattened out they’ll have to remove the concrete that’s been broken up, but we know from geological surveys that there’s a bit of contamination underneath. So the speed depends upon the extent of the contamination and how much of it we have to clear away,” said King.