Work starts on Bombardier business jet centre at Biggin Hill

A new business aircraft service centre for Bombardier Aviation has started construction at London Biggin Hill Airport.

Structural steel firm REIDsteel and design and build specialist Civils Contracting started work on the service centre. The two firms have been successfully delivering aircraft hangars for over 20 years.

The development will comprise a hangar of nearly 250,000ft2, including workshops and office space, plus 650,000ft2 of apron area, car park and external works.

The service centre will be capable of housing up to 14 Global 7500s at any one time, and provides a significant expansion of Bombardier’s service facilities at London Biggin Hill Airport.

REIDsteel is providing design, drawing, fabrication and construction services for all steelwork, wall cladding, roof cladding, glazing and hangar doors – for main contractor Civils Contracting.

Civils has already started the site works with extensive clearance, reduced dig and ground engineering works.

The first steel reinforced cages are now being installed in readiness for the pouring of the foundations which have to resist the 2000T uplift loads that the 45m cantilever rafter trusses will create. The development is due to complete in 2022.

REIDsteel project director Richard Hanson said: “From our early beginnings making hangars for the famous French airman Louis Bleriot, REIDsteel has worked with aviation pioneers.

“We are proud to support Bombardier and London Biggin Hill on this latest, exciting development with Civils Contracting.

“It highlights our ability to provide more than just the steel frame with design, fabrication and construction of essential parts of the building envelope, including cladding, curtain walling, decking and our own aircraft hangar doors.

“Civils has an exceptional reputation and hold values to match our own. We are delighted to be working with them once again.”

The new service centre will be REIDsteel’s 11th hangar at the airfield. It will use products sourced from its primary/preferred supplier British Steel, including 1600 tonnes of steel and 300,000ft2 of cladding.

Nick Weaver, Civils project director, said: “The development of this state-of-the-art service centre marks another phase in the impressive growth of both Bombardier and London Biggin Hill Airport.

“They are both icons of aviation, and we are delighted to support their commitment to providing customers with industry leading services.

“Together with REIDsteel, we look forward to delivering a high-specification development which will represent a major investment in the region and boost for the economy.”

www.reidsteel.com