On completion in mid-2019 the new building will house a a climate controlled, dedicated paint-shop, a spacious hangar large enough to hold up to A220-size aircraft, as well as offices, customer meeting rooms, interiors workshops and a board room. The investment of approximately CAD$25 million will add a further 100, 000 square feet to the Peterborough footprint.
“Our business has grown significantly over the last twelve months and we were running out of space to accommodate all our clients’ requests. Once the building is complete we will be using it to provide additional capacity for completions, refurbishment and heavy maintenance work scopes on large jet airframes,” said John Gillespie about the expansion. At the company’s Chesterfield, St. Louis facility a fifth hangar, a leased building, is undergoing preparations to open for business in January 2019 adding d a further 40, 000 square feet to the KSUS facility.
More than 100 team members are currently being recruited across both sites to bolster the increased demand as the search for maintenance, interiors and paint expertise leads the recruitment drive.
Working in conjunction with Aerolite, the medical equipment specialists, and the Bombardier Specialized Aircraft team, Flying Colours designed, manufactured and installed the majority of the non-medical monuments, furnishings and interior components. When in full operation the cabin functions as a fully operative Intensive Care Unit for up to two patients with attending medical experts or can be easily configured to support transport of up to four patients. The spacious cabin can also accommodate specialized medical equipment as needed.
To improve the passenger, patient and clinician experience, the cabin design emulates a multi-purpose clinical environment. The calming grey and white interior is accented with red handles and fixings, and significant consideration was given to soundproofing. In the aft section a duo of galleys incorporates Enflite ovens, coffee makers and customized double-width fridges that provide extra space to store medical supplies. A lavatory is also located next to the baggage area with the overall layout ensuring easy egress and access for the patients and medical teams. With reduced noise levels and a practical layout, as well as the Challenger 650 aircraft’s widest-in-class cabin and smooth ride, this air ambulance offers passengers, clinicians and patients a superior flight experience during what can be a stressful time.
The aircraft are instantly recognizable by those needing to identify them at airports around the globe. The Flying Colours dedicated paintwork team completed a striking exterior look featuring a solid red flash across the front portion of the fuselage and a red and white design element on the tail
“We are extremely pleased with the successful completion of these three incredible aircraft. The intelligently designed interiors ensure crew and clinicians can effectively operate no matter how challenging the environment. Patients and passengers benefit from an extremely comfortable medical environment, which we recognize in some cases will be life-saving. We understand that the first two aircraft are already working hard and that this third and final Challenger 650 aircraft will be a welcome addition to the fleet,” said Sean Gillespie, Executive VP Flying Colours. “It was an exciting project to work on as we completed each aircraft to the highest quality on time and on budget. The complexity and very specific requirements of these aircraft demonstrate the expertise within our special missions team and we look forward to working on similar projects in the near future.”
* Bombardier and Challenger 650 are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
One of the latest projects followed the purchase of a pre-owned Bombardier Global XRS aircraft. As it began extensive maintenance in the Bombardier Seletar facility, Flying Colours worked in parallel to complete an upgrade of the 14-passenger cabin. Meeting the brief of the China-based customer who wanted to modernise the dated look Flying Colours outfitted the interior with an elegant, neutral cream palette. The cabinetry was refinished, new satin rose gold plating was added to the metal work, a camel coloured carpet was fitted, and the divan and seats were recovered. The galley and aft lavatory countertops were replaced to complement the newly fitted vanity wardrobe and cabinet.
“The increase in cabin overhauls really exemplifies the change in demand from the maturing Asia and Middle East markets as savvy owners and operators recognize the benefits of acquiring preowned aircraft,” says Paul Dunford, general manager of Flying Colours Corp. PTE.
“This has stimulated a need for high-level refurbishments and demand for complete customization has increased.” Flying Colours is meeting the charge providing highest standard interior services to a widening customer-base. Its 20-strong team now supports Bombardier and aircraft owners in Asia and the Middle East by mirroring its North American facilities in providing full refurbishment services while aircraft are in the hangars for maintenance.
“A few years ago, the Asian market preferred to buy new, but we are seeing more purchasers looking to buy pre-owned and style it in their own look. Our team is well-equipped to tackle minor repairs, through to full completion work scopes and has built a reputation for producing results equal to the mature markets in North America and Europe. We are now well known to the Asian and Middle East-based customers.”
The latest project is becoming the norm for the Flying Colors Corp PTE team. “There are more than 300 Bombardier business aircraft in the region and many are nearing their 96-and 120-month inspection intervals. We believe this is a great opportunity, as we can fully support an operator’s interior refurbishment needs and deliver a customized, high-quality aircraft, in parallel with the maintenance work. We anticipate a very busy year in 2019,” says Dunford.
Get in touch
Peterborough, Ontario
901-120 Airport Rd
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada, K9J 0E7
Phone +1 (705) 742-4688
AOG +1 (855) 742-4688
Fax +1 (705) 742-8861
St. Louis, Missouri
525 Turbine Ave
Chesterfield, Missouri
USA, 63005
Phone +1 (636) 530-7000
AOG +1 (314) 602-5366
Fax +1 (636) 530-7001
With the support of the Government of Canada though the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Avec le soutien du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise de l'Agence fédérale de développement économique pour le Sud de l'Ontario.
