Dublin Aerospace (DAL), an aviation maintenance company headquartered in Ireland, officially opened the doors to a ‘state of the art’ landing gear facility in Ashbourne, Co Meath, at the end of last month. The development is a result of a 12 million euro investment supported by the Government through its agency Enterprise Ireland and Dublin Aerospace shareholders.

Specialising in Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 landing gear overhaul and spread across a 70,000ft² area, there is capacity for up to 350 overhauls per year at this new location.

With four new electro-plating lines, light and heavy machine shops, dedicated inspection, and NDT centre, in addition to cleaning and assembly shops, this unit can accomplish all the tasks required for a complete overhaul under the one roof.

The facility was officially opened by Tánaiste, and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Leo Varadkar. He said: “Today’s announcement gives me great hope for the future. I know aviation was one of the sectors worst affected by the pandemic. Dublin Aerospace was founded during tough times and is once again a case study in triumph over adversity.

“The Government has tried to help aviation firms get through it with wage subsidies and rates waivers. Through long-term investment in our airports, we are committed to helping the sector fully recover and thrive again. As an island, with a very open economy and society, our connectivity to the rest of the world is absolutely crucial.

This new landing gear facility will employ 150 people once fully up and running. The 12 million euro investment by Dublin Aerospace and the Government through Enterprise Ireland is a real vote of confidence in what I believe will be a very strong recovery in the industry.

“I also really welcome the plans to develop a Landing Gear Technician traineeship. The Government wants to see more employers run apprenticeships and traineeships and this one will make sure we have the skills and people to make the most of this fantastic new facility in the years to come.”

Conor McCarthy, CEO and chairman of Dublin Aerospace, said: “We would like to thank Enterprise Ireland as well as our shareholders for their support and belief in this Irish enterprise as we continue our growth trajectory.

“We started Dublin Aerospace out of adversity; during the 2009 Global Financial Crisis — and we have managed to grow, compete profitably, and succeed ever since. The opening of our new Landing Gear Centre is a true testament to the proficiency of the team, their hard work and their commitment to our customers.

“Since its inception, Dublin Aerospace has expanded from a group of just 18 people in Dublin to a team of over 500 across Dublin, Ashbourne, and Exeter, with over 75 of those aerospace professionals based in Ashbourne.”

He added: “We are operating in a globally competitive sector, where having the right talent, skills, and attitude is crucial. As a home-grown Irish business, we compete on the global stage, and we are truly proud to say we have been successful thanks to the experience, ability, and work ethic of our great team.”

“We pride ourselves as being a learning and training organisation, with over 100 young men and women in training at any time, with ambitious plans to increase this number in the near future.”

Stephen Creaner, Enterprise Ireland executive director, said: “Enterprise Ireland has supported Dublin Aerospace from its inception, and we are delighted to back the continued expansion of the company, a very important MRO service provider to the global aviation industry.

“Dublin Aerospace is an incredible success story, servicing its international client base and delivering high value jobs to Ireland. Even during the pandemic, when the aviation sector was badly hit, Dublin Aerospace continued to deliver on its ambitions — pushing ahead with the development of its new landing gear facility in Meath and establishing Exeter Aerospace in the former Flybe Maintenance Services facility in the UK.

“Enterprise Ireland works closely with Dublin Aerospace to deliver job creation, achieve its growth ambition and grow its international customer base across Europe, the Middle East, the USA, Asia, Africa and Russia.”

Dublin Aerospace is currently hiring for a number of positions, with roles advertised for electricians, technicians/mechanics, painters, document controllers, production planners, and health and safety officers. All roles can be found advertised on the Dublin Aerospace website (www.dublinaerospace.com).