One of the Cotswolds' most unique businesses is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Air Salvage International, based at Cotswold Airport, is the world’s largest privately owned provider of aircraft disassembly and recovery services.
The first in Europe to offer this when they formed in 1997, the business enables owners of retired commercial aircraft to respond to pressure to reduce their global footprint.
CEO Mark Gregory and his team have worked on over 900 disassembly and recovery projects over the last 25 years, including some in remote locations such as Togo, Sudan, Ecuador, Libya, and Costa Rica.
The company also has the unique capacity to dismantle, move and rebuild aircraft. It’s carried out this task on over 30 commercial and military aircraft to date.
In 2004 ASI was awarded the prestigious contract by British Airways to dismantle and then reassemble two Concorde aircraft at their UK museums.
Mark, 60, said: “It is difficult to pat yourself on the back, but I have certainly fulfilled my dream of forming a successful and sustainable aviation business.
"I also believe that we have been and are currently part of a driving force behind delivering sustainable and environmentally responsible services in the global aircraft disassembly sector which makes me very proud.”
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The company employs 26 staff who are mainly from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
ASI affiliates GC Aviation Maintenance (GCAM) and Skyline Aero are also based at the same Cotswold site.
“The three businesses complement each other, providing component suppliers, lessors, insurers, airlines, and banks with a unique ‘one-stop-shop’ facility to store aircraft whilst evaluating asset optimisation," said Mark.
“I could not have done it without the support of a great team around me, from way back then to now.
"As a company we have always had a strong commitment to meeting customer needs and reducing global footprint by providing consistent, quality driven services that are continually audited through AFRA (Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association).
"In fact, we were the first company worldwide to be awarded the AFRA accreditation. Here’s to another 25 years.”
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