Oceania Aviation has finalised a strategic agreement with sister companies Aero Composites Limited and Aero Design Limited. Oceania Aviation has purchased the manufacturing equipment of Aero Composites, which will facilitate Oceania's Part 148 division to set up a new composites production facility in its Ardmore, Auckland base.

Under the licence agreement, Oceania will manufacture and market the products designed by Aero Design, which will allow new composite developments to be brought to market with greater efficiency and commerciality. Aero Composites will concentrate on product development, prototyping and certification to support Aero Design in bringing new products to the aerospace industry as well as improving on existing composite products, all of which Oceania Aviation will manufacture from its new production facilities.

Aero Design's Daniel Retief has joined the Oceania team as its new composites production lead and will be key to setting up the transfer of technology, capability and assets from Aero Composites to Oceania and to facilitate the rollout of its new production capabilities.

Oceania Aviation's chief executive Greg Edmonds says: “This partnership is a significant opportunity for all three businesses involved and will provide Oceania Aviation the means to significantly expand on its composite capabilities. The company is already well known for providing composite products via its Part 148 certified Airborne Systems division, which offers industry leading helicopter role equipment to rotary customers globally.”