A new aircraft maintenance company, Jet Maintenance International (JMI), is to begin operations at London Oxford airport from the start of May. Headed by principals Neil Plumb and Ed Griffith, the MRO and aircraft management business will be primarily focused on Cessna Citation and Dassault Falcon aircraft product support with line, base and AOG capabilities.

Veterans in the business aviation sector with over 40 years' combined experience, the JMI team expects to tap into the ever-growing demand for high quality and personalised customer service for some of the more popular models in the UK and wider European business aviation fleet where demand is beginning to exceed capacity.

Griffith's experience includes running hangar MRO operations at Gama Aviation, Textron and Kinch Aviation, and transforming the London Luton airport line station for CSE Citation Centre (now Signature TECHNICAir). Plumb was the general manager of a large MRO at Cranfield before going on to set up his own business managing and flying business aircraft, predominantly Citation and Falcon types.

The company will operate from London Oxford airport's recently completed Hangar 14, Bay 4, a brand-new two million pound facility of around 16,000 sq ft with bespoke external offices and dedicated customer parking.

London Oxford airport MD Andi Alexander comments: “We are delighted to have Neil and Ed set-up this new MRO at Oxford, very much complementing all the other types already supported here, both fixed wing and helicopters. With our great opening hours, competitive costs and hassle-free access with no slot, noise-related, weekend or capacity constraints, we hope Oxford will prove a popular choice for visiting aircraft for MRO support with JMI.”

Head of business development at the airport James Dillon-Godfray says: “With our close proximity to Heathrow or Birmingham airports, access back home for positioning crews is simple. But for those staying with their aircraft locally, Oxford is a really user-friendly base with superb local amenities and plenty to see locally, from Blenheim Palace to Bicester Village or indeed the beautiful university city of Oxford itself.”

JMI's Plumb adds: “Having operated out of London Oxford for over 20 years, the airport works very well geographically and from an ease-of-use perspective for our prospective clients. It is close to London but with sensible costs.”

Initial operations will be focused on the Citation Mustang, CJ Series, Excel/XLS and Falcon 2000 and 900 but will evolve to meet customer demand.