Oriens Aviation, the exclusive British Isles Pilatus centre and sales distributor of the PC-12, has strengthened its MRO team by appointing former TAG Aviation Farnborough head of maintenance Stuart Locke as general manager of its Biggin Hill airport facility. He will take up the post in January.

During his time at TAG, Locke managed the company's Part 145 maintenance division and was instrumental in doubling its business from 50,000 to 100,000 man-hours with an 80-strong workforce. Prior to this role he worked as an engineer for Flybe for 19 years, gaining experience on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, Embraer 145, BAE 146 and Embraer 190 and opening up line stations at Paris CDG, Gatwick and Newcastle before settling at Flybe's hub at Southampton airport.

Principally concerned with the PC-12, Oriens also maintains a variety of other business aircraft including the Cessna Citation series and the Hawker 1000, having taken over the Avalon Aero facilities and its engineers and technicians 12 months ago.

“I was very impressed with the passion and vision of Edwin Brenninkmeyer when I first met him six months ago,” says Locke. “He has built a fine team and there are some terrific opportunities ahead, with both the Pilatus family and other types, since Oriens holds A1 and A2 licences. I am looking forward to helping to grow the MRO and associated activities. Oriens Aviation and its talented engineering team are well placed to further widen the types they support."

Brenninkmeyer adds: “We are delighted to welcome Stuart to the Oriens family. He has the ideal credentials and experience to help us grow and further build on our mainstay and important Pilatus aircraft activity. Already, we will be supporting 20 PC-12 aircraft for owners in the UK and internationally next year."

Oriens Aviation announced last month it will also expand into Pilatus PC-12 flight training in 2019 as part of a newly-ratified agreement with Oysterair. Pilot training at its London Biggin airport headquarters will commence in January.