Specialist Aviation Services Group (SAS) has opened its new headquarters at Gloucestershire Airport. The group, which includes Police Aviation Services and Medical Aviation Services, also celebrated its 20th anniversary of operating emergency service aircraft.

The facility was opened by Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the British Helicopter Advisory Board, and was constructed to accommodate growth in the company’s engineering and training businesses. The company recently won contracts to upgrade four helicopters for the UK’s Metropolitan Police and Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.

SAS supplies, operates and maintains a range of MD and Eurocopter helicopter types, as well as fixed wing aircraft, and is a UK distributor for the MD Explorer.

According to a spokesman, the company is also experiencing growth in its corporate aircraft maintenance and training operations. “As well as delivering more of our regular IR courses for specialist twin-engined rotary pilots, the business has recently been awarded a substantial training contract, which involves training students on site in the UK as well as out in the Gulf.”