Final VC10 aircraft leaves MoD St Athan in ‘sad day’ for staff

More than 70 years of military aircraft maintenance will come to a close at a Welsh former RAF base today, in a move described as a “sad day” by workers and politicians.

The departure of the last VC10 aircraft to be serviced at MoD St Athan – formerly RAF St Athan – marks the end of an era at the Vale of Glamorgan site.

But AMs and MPs last night spoke of their hopes that the base would continue to have a bright future.

Jane Hutt, Vale of Glamorgan AM and Finance Minister, said: “It is a sad day for the highly skilled Defence Support Group (DSG) workforce.

“I am pleased the Welsh Government has recently given St Athan Enterprise Zone status and is keen to develop an Aerospace Business Park at St Athan to create jobs and use the airfield and skills base– like the DSG workforce – in the area.”

The final day of maintenance work on the aircraft, which was due to depart at 3pm, had been expected by workers at the Large Aircraft Business since the phasing out of the ageing VC10 fleet was announced two years ago.

The aircraft, which has been serviced in South Wales for nearly 20 years, was the last military plane to be serviced at the base, which has maintained an array of different military planes since the 1930s.

The DSG base closure has meant the loss of more than 300 jobs.

One worker at the base, who asked not to be named said: “It is the end of an era, but all eras come to an end and we have to move on. Of course it is sad, but we should look forward with hope and optimism.”

The closure has sparked renewed calls for action to ensure that the base is developed by both the Welsh and Westminster governments.

When the announcement of the closure was first made shortly before Christmas 2009, hopes remained high that the development of the £14bn Defence Technical Academy would provide a prosperous future. But that scheme was scrapped the next year by the incoming coalition government.

Meanwhile, it is understood some of the workers who serviced the VC10s in the “super hangar” base have found other contract employment.

The site has also seen the development of the Welsh Government’s Aerospace Business Park, with hopes that training facilities will be developed there.

The Park was recently given a boost with the news that Hunter Flying – which oversees the maintenance and operation of the largest private collection of classic aircraft of its kind – has taken a 10-year lease on two hangars at the park.

The two hangars cover 50,888 sq ft. One will be used for housing and maintaining the aircraft and the other will accommodate the large number of spares and equipment required to keep historic aircraft in an airworthy condition.

The company aims to create new employment for “a number of aircraft engineers,” including those from the DSG, as it diversifies into other areas of maintenance.

Hunter Flying’s chief engineer John Sparks said St Athan was ideal for their plans. “It ticks all the boxes and my wife Nadine and I are excited about the move,” he said.

Meanwhile, British Airways is considering expanding its maintenance operation in Wales with a new base at St Athan.

Alun Cairns, Vale of Glamorgan MP, said: “We now need to capitalise on the skills of the staff who have worked on this aircraft, and make sure that we retain these skills and expert knowledge base within our community.

“The Welsh Government need to act quickly to make their aerospace park become a reality as part of their Enterprise Zone scheme.”

He added: “I’m in touch with the MoD regarding the plans for the super hangar and am optimistic about the outcome.”