Tuesday 26 March 2013:

IABP Welcomes Bristow Following SAR Announcement

The chairman of Inverness Airport Business Park (IABP) has welcomed the announcement that IABP will be a key base for Bristow Helicopters Limited's operation of the UK Search and Rescue (SAR) contract.

Bristow Helicopters, which began operating a three month training contract from IABP last month, has put forward proposals to create a permanent training centre as well as a helicopter base at the airside zone of the business park.

David Hastings, IABP chairman, said: "This is great news for the business park. By locating both the training facility and base for the high-tech new SAR helicopters at IABP until at least 2026, Bristow Helicopters will provide a welcome boost to the local economy

"IABP will soon be the base for both the Search and Rescue and Air Ambulance services. Couple this with the growing number of schedule, charter and private fights being welcomed by Inverness Airport and we can see attractive opportunities for companies involved in aviation maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) at the park."

"We hope that the increase in activity will help to highlight the opportunities presented by Inverness Airport Business Park, not only for aviation-related businesses but for all businesses which would benefit from the advantages of being located at a business park so well connected to the rest of Scotland, the UK and through the Amsterdam air link, Europe and beyond."

Inverness Airport is a joint venture between Highlands and Islands Airports, Moray Estates and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with the support of The Highland Council.

Overlooking the Moray Firth and adjacent to Inverness Airport, IABP offers 250-Hectares of development land with outline planning permission for 3.5m sq ft. It is anticipated over 700 people could be working on the site in seven years and over 1,200 in the next decade. 

Ends

Notes to Editors

For more information on IABP visit www.iabp.co.uk

For interviews and images, please contact:

Natalie Buxton at Weber Shandwick

T: 01463 716739

M: 07770 886934

E: nbuxton@webershandwick.com