Gama Aviation has won a contract to support a major oil company in West Africa, primarily using a Challenger 604. The operator will supply air and ground services, flying and maintaining the aircraft on behalf of the client. The length of the contract is for two years, with the option to extend for a further two.

MD for Europe Mark Gascoigne says: “We are delighted to have extended our relationship with this client by winning a hard-fought tender process. We have been able to create a solution that delivers the right mix of security, safety, resilience and value by combining our air and ground assets.”

The Challenger 604 will be backed up by other aircraft as required. Line and AOG maintenance will be supplied in country, while base maintenance is due to take place at Gama's London Oxford facility, which specialises in CL601/604/605 types.

Head of jet maintenance Scott Corbett says: “We are well positioned to support this aircraft, both down route and through its contracted lifecycle via our Oxford base. However I also anticipate that, because of the aircraft's mission profile, we will draw upon our teams in Nice and Sharjah, all of whom have support capabilities.”

The company has also appointed former Close Brothers MD Richard Kearsey as director of corporate development. A chartered accountant by profession, Kearsey spent 27 years at Close Brothers' aviation and marine finance division, establishing the merchant bank in the market.

He comments: “Gama Aviation has the structure, financial means and shareholder backing to capture the opportunity that exists within the business aviation sector. I'm delighted to join the company and look forward to its development in the years ahead.”

Group CEO Marwan Khalek adds: “Richard is another excellent addition to our leadership team and I am very pleased that we continue to attract such high calibre talent to our business. His experience and proven business acumen will add immediate bandwidth.”