DARA Components Almondbank

DARA Components is a Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) centre specialising in components for helicopters, located at Almondbank, and is Perth and Kinross's largest single engineering employer, with somewhere around 300 staff.

The facility has the capability to repair, modify and test an extensive range of hydraulic and transmission components used in both air and land systems for both MoD and civilian applications.

Since 2003, local politicians have been making much capital of announcements that this business is being considered for divestment into the commercial sector and, in 2007, described the selection of a Canadian company as Preferred Bidders as "Insane".

In 2007, the merger of DARA with the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) was announced:

Merger of Defence Repair Groups 5/22/2007

The Ministry of Defence has today announced its decision to merge ABRO and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) to form a new, in-house defence support group.

The new group will formally merge by April 2008. It will focus on providing a cost competitive, in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade capability in support of the Armed Forces, operating where appropriate in partnership with industry.

Lord Drayson, said:
'ABRO and DARA, the MoD owns two maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses that have considerable and in some cases unique practical know-how in maintaining land and air based military equipment. Today's announcement will ensure that the MoD retains the intellectual property and design skills required to maintain operational sovereignty in key areas as set out in the Defence Industrial and Technology Strategies.'

'We will consult closely with staff and trades unions as the plans for the new organisation develop during the course of 2007.'

ENDS

ABRO media release

Company Sale

On February 5, 2008, the UK Government announced the sale of the Almondbank facility to Canadian owned aviation repair and overhaul company Vector Aerospace. While the company issued a statement to the effect that it plans to expand the operation, and increase staffing if appropriate, a spokesman for the union UNITE was issuing a statement to the effect that strike action in response to the decision was not being ruled out as they believe the business should be in the public sector.