MEBA: FAS breaks ground on new completions centre

The $80 million centre was announced by Abu Dhabi-based Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo in February and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2015.

The first ground was cut by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman of Dubai Airports, and FAS chairman, Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan.

When finished, the completion hangar will be large enough to accommodate an Airbus A380 and will include an in-house design studio for its elite clientele.

Sheikh Sultan said: “This is a significant achievement – for Falcon, for DWC and for the UAE. With the boom of the aviation industry in the Middle East, the opening of such facilities puts the region at the leading edge of aerospace technology. Falcon Aviation not only fills a niche in the VIP completion market, providing an exclusive service to aircraft owners and operators in the Middle East, it brings the UAE closer to becoming the global trade hub of the world.

“Rising competition in the industry and ever-tightening budgets have resulted in a shift in the way aircraft owners and operators are doing business. This is a complex business and we have paid careful attention to assess the needs of our customers.”

FAS has partnered with Bombardier, Integrated Aerospace Alliance, CDG and Rockwell Collins for the project, which will be built by consulting architects Arkiplan.