Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has purchased Beechcraft's flagship European MRO business, Hawker Beechcraft Limited. The Broughton, UK, site which is also known as Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester, has provided a full range of maintenance, modification, paint and upgrade services to owners of Hawker and Beechcraft aircraft for over 50 years. The business will be known as Marshall Aviation Services.

Steve Fitz-Gerald, ceo of Marshall ADG, comments: “We are committed to a strategy of building our civil aerospace business and I am delighted that Hawker Beechcraft Limited has become part of Marshall Aviation Services. This is our second business aviation acquisition this year and demonstrates our ambition to grow and become a major player in the business and commercial aviation marketplace.”

Marshall at Cambridge will continue to provide a vital service and support role for Beechcraft throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa and has been granted Authorised Service Centre status for Hawker and King Air aircraft.

Christi Tannahill, senior vp of Hawker Beechcraft global customer support, adds: “We view the transition of our service facility to Marshall as a positive development for customers, employees and the aviation industry in the region. We are confident Hawker and Beechcraft owners and operators will continue to receive world-class support through this newly designated Authorised Service Centre.”

Marshall Aviation Services also plans to broaden the range of aircraft types supported at Broughton and leverage its design and integration expertise to provide aircraft manufacturers, governments and specialist operators with innovative engineering and support solutions to satisfy special mission requirements.

In addition, Marshall has been appointed exclusive aircraft sales distributor for Beechcraft's range of commercial and special mission King Air turboprops and piston-engine aircraft in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia.