Caerdav, the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and pilot training company in South Wales, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai-based MOBH Group which will see millions of pounds pumped into developing new training and maintenance facilities.

Under the MoU, Caerdav will create a centre of excellence for commercial aviation training at Bro Tathan, the new business park opened by the Welsh Government in September – providing complete training for pilots and cabin crew.

In addition to the training centre, the investment will also fund the construction of a new aircraft paint hangar, enabling Caerdav to provide full paint services for aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767 – complementing the engineering works the company already carries out for major airlines.

Caerdav CEO Joachim Jones says: “With MOBH Group’s backing, we aim to create Europe’s most advanced flight training centre, while expanding our outstanding independent aircraft maintenance operations. This is a hugely exciting opportunity for growth and underlines how our team’s commitment and hard work has led to this being the best year in the company’s history – with 2020 now looking even brighter.”

The new centre will offer state-of-the-art ab-initio flight training, Multi-Crew Co-operation courses, Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, type ratings and a dedicated course for cabin crew.

Trainee pilots will develop their skills on Diamond DA42NG and DA40 aircraft, and simulators for the Boeing 737 Classic, 737NG and Airbus 320, the world’s most widely used passenger aircraft. Training will be provided in partnership with Austrian-based AeronautX.

Details of the development and investment capital are expected to be finalised in the coming months.