The Iron Maiden school of flight training?

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson to create 1,000 jobs in Wales with aviation centre - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9239181/Iron-Maiden-singer-Bruce-Dickinson-to-create-1000-jobs-in-Wales-with-aviation-centre.html)

Just to prove that life is stranger than fiction up pops this gem.


1000 jobs my hairy arse is my first, best reaction. So what is it? A rival to OATS/CTC or a tertiary education establishment or a vanity project or what? Given that Bruce Dickinson is a PPRuNe Veteran and all round top bloke perhaps we might soon have some insight. :confused:



WWW

[filthyrichandcatflap]

Run to the hills ?

[B737900er]

Talking to some ex Training captains from AEU he has already got a B737 sim.
Personally I think Bruce would do this industry some good. Whilst I dont have anything personal against OAA/CTC I dont like the fact the loco's come to these guys first pushing the other modular guys down the list.

Like WWW said watch this space.

[poss]

I heard something about Bruce wanting to "resurrect" Astraeus, perhaps this is a follow on from that?

Talking to some ex Training captains from AEU he has already got a B737 sim.

On the Iron Maiden website they are advertising flight sim slots with Bruce on the 737.

[favete linguis]

my hairy arse

A little too much information, :eek:

[magicmick]

The facility will be a maintenance facility with some sims for pilot training. It’s not clear whether they will take self sponsoring students through their type rating and use some 3rd party operation to supply aircraft for base training or whether they will just provide sim continuation training for rated pilots either self sponsoring or under contract to operators that do not have sufficient training capacity. Maybe they will compete with OAA/ CAE to train RYR cadets, only time will tell.

As for the 1000 jobs, that’s just a BS statistic, they may well protect the future of 1000 jobs when you consider 3rd party organisations and agencies that will supply/ support Cardiff Aviation but as far as direct employment is concerned then 100 might be more like the number.

However any job creation/ job protection scheme has to be good news so I wish them all the best.

[favete linguis]

Iron Maiden singer sets up aircraft firm | Business | The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/01/iron-maiden-bruce-dickinson-aircraft?newsfeed=true)

Iron Maiden singer sets up aircraft firm
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/5/1/1335894106496/Cardiff-Aviation-Limited-008.jpg

Bruce Dickinson, a commercial airline pilot and established aviation entrepreneur, has set up Cardiff Aviation Limited, which will provide specialist services to the airline industry. Photograph: Benjamin Wright/PA
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson is hoping that money can be made from repairing heavy metal as well as performing it, after launching an aircraft maintenance business.

Dickinson, one of rock's renaissance men – a commercial airline pilot, enthusiastic fencer and published novelist – has established a company that will repair and overhaul aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767. Cardiff Aviation Ltd will be based in an enterprise zone in the Vale of Glamorgan and Dickinson said the business had ambitious growth targets.

"We're coming into this enterprise with the knowledge we'll be bringing business to south Wales," he said. "A cautious projection is that we'd expect to create up to a thousand jobs within 18 months, based on the level of interest and commitment from aircraft manufacturers and operators."

Dickinson added: "South Wales has long had an association with the aircraft industry and I am delighted I am able to play a small part in the continuation of that tradition."

Dickinson's love of flying has assured the singer a place as one of rock's more eccentric figures, although he has assured fans that he does not "leap around the flight deck yelling and screaming". The 53-year-old was a captain for the now-defunct Astraeus Airlines and has flown his band in their "Ed Force One" Boeing 757 during an Iron Maiden world tour.

The Wales business minister, Edwina Hart, said the new company would boost a "dynamic" aerospace sector in Wales. "The Welsh government has been working closely with Bruce Dickinson and Cardiff Aviation on this exciting project for some time and we are delighted it has come to fruition. This is exactly the type of investment needed, which will create hundreds of well-paid skilled jobs in one of our key sectors," he said.

Dickinson's venture will be based in a 132,000 square foot hangar at the St Athan enterprise zone, one of five zones set up by the Welsh government for specific sectors. Welsh government officials said the zone could create 10,000 jobs by 2025.

The songwriter also said the venture could provide a welcome boost to Cardiff airport, which has recently seen visitor numbers drop. He said: "Cardiff airport has tremendous potential to challenge the successful English regional airports."

Hart said:

"This is a flagship operation and provides a great start for the new Aerospace Enterprise Zone."

Last year the Welsh government confirmed it was setting up five enterprise zones, each specialising in a different sector.

[Genghis the Engineer]

There's bound to be a certain amount of hype about a startup like this, but it strikes me as entirely positive and best of luck to Bruce and his team.

On the training side - it's easy for pilots in particular to forget that they are only one trade in a huge set of skills that are required to make aviation happen. The UK has arguably something of an oversupply of pilot training, and at the other end in design, but that is less true of training for example in maintenance, dispatch, technical support skills.... there's plenty of scope for a successful training and support business in the UK, but I'd not concentrate on pilot training myself.

But yes, 1000 jobs might well be a long term ambition, but it's hardly going to start that size.

G

[pudoc]

Sounds ambitious but I for one think this is fantastic news. There's always emphasis on bad news and scepticism over good news. It's great to see he's setting something up. Finally some good news for aviation in the UK.

Still not sure about what it's going to consist of, maybe something to assit with BA's maintenance and Cardiff or type ratings?

Looking forward to hearing more on this. Maybe this is a step to brining Astraeus back, like he wants to.

[MartinCh]

I also think the 1500 jobs is possibly LONG TERM including all subcontracting companies and associated suppliers.. A PLAN.

It did, however, create certain buzz and feeling of 'something up in the air' at ICAT, part-66 training facility at Cardiff airport (industrial park) as I was there yesterday. Graduating students eager to talk stuff with some lecturers etc. So who knows..

There are very few engineering jobs other than BAMC near Cardiff/South Wales, so any news of jobs are good news. Doesn't bother me as I just moved out.

I wish Bruce and his soon-to-be new staff good luck with the company.

[500 above]

Go Bruce!

You could always start by fixing up Aztruck 139DB!

[aztruck]

Aha...I believe she is in the US now. A very intrepid soul must have done that ferry!

[mad_jock]

Robert Weaver?

[Joe86]

Bruce is in the same catergory as Edd China from wheeler dealers... an all round legend and i bet amazing company down the pub.

Good luck to him, and if he does start a school or even MRO... i will be applying :).:D

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Any progress?

WWW