A flight inspection firm crucial for safety purposes, serving the UK military, has inked a new leasing agreement.
Teesside Airport
.
Thales has entered into a five-year pact with the airport. This contract also encompasses upgrades to its main hangar, offering approximately 7,500 square feet of area designated for planes and workspaces. Thales offers safety assurances for navigation systems and radar installations at various Ministry of Defence locations worldwide; their responsibilities have expanded to include numerous civilian airstrips too.
This deal ensures that the firm’s operations will keep Teeside as their headquarters at least up to 2030. Thales Flight Inspection Service focuses on providing flight inspection services aimed at guaranteeing that all navigation equipment utilized by military and civilian planes meets safety standards, accuracy requirements, and regulatory compliance.
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These systems are imperative for ensuring aircraft can land safely and navigate accurately – particularly in challenging environments or during poor
weather
.
John Hogan, Manager of Thales Flight Inspection Service, said: “We’ve been the sole supplier to the MoD for Flight Checking since 1996. Military and Civil aircraft rely on us to ensure the safety of their airports.
We take care of all airports globally for the Ministry of Defence. During wartime, we have been stationed in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, managing their facilities over there. Recently, we returned from Akrotiri; additionally, we visit The Falkland Islands biannually, as well as Gibraltar. Our list of civilian clients keeps expanding.
Thales offers inspections for various navigation aids including Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), which assist airplanes in landing securely during poor visibility conditions, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) transmitters, and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), all of which aid in navigating aircraft.
The company similarly manages specialized military equipment like TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) and Precision Approach Radar utilized at MoD installations globally. Additionally, they assess Primary and Secondary Radar Systems, along with portable units and the UK’s air defense radar setups.
Thales manages two aircraft stationed in the UK—a Hawker Beechcraft B200 and a Diamond DA42MNG—both of which have undergone specific modifications for these inspection tasks. Additionally, a Britten Norman Islander located in the Falklands has also been customized exclusively for this semi-annual check-up.
Flights are conducted by highly seasoned pilots with extensive flight time and Flight Inspectors who have specialized equipment. These experts collect aerial data to ensure that terrestrial navigation and radar systems meet stringent international criteria.
John stated: “In addition to our Ministry of Defence obligations, we’re receiving more civilian projects at quite a rapid pace right now. These responsibilities are certainly increasing. We expect this growth to continue, which will inevitably result in hiring additional personnel and acquiring further resources.”
Thales has called Teesside home since 1996, initially operating under the name Flight Precision Ltd.
Even though it moved to Bournemouth temporarily from 2014 to 2016 during earlier ownership, the team was queried about their preferences once Thales took over the company.
John stated: “We agreed on Teesside, naturally, so we returned as it’s an ideal spot centrally located for our UK operations spanning from Northern Scotland down to South-West England.”
Victoria Ashby, Head of Property and Development at Teesside Airport, said: “Thales has been an incredibly loyal and a long-standing partner to Teesside Airport.
We’re delighted to have a company that has been instrumental in keeping our armed forces safe, secure, and ready for nearly thirty years at our airport, and we’re thrilled to ensure they will continue their work with us until at least 2030.
Our business park has become one of the quickest expanding sites nationally, thanks to Airbourne Colours, Willis Aviation, and Draken all increasing their activities here. This growth signifies a promising outlook for us moving forward, so we strongly encourage other businesses to take a look at what we have to offer—boasting advantages like being within a freeport area, strategically located right in the heart of the UK, and offering significant logistics capabilities.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “Our Airport has proud military roots – and those links to our armed forces are still going strong today through Draken, veterans in our airport teams and Thales.
“It’s brilliant to see Thales, a company that plays a vital role in keeping our MoD operating smoothly, doubling down on their commitment to Teesside. They’re exactly the kind of high-skill, high-tech employer we want to see thriving here – creating good-quality jobs and helping us build a stronger, more secure future for our airport and our region.”