FR AVIATION, LTD.: Bournemouth International Airport, Christchurch, Dorset, England, BH23 6NE, United Kingdom; Phone 1202 580936; Http://www. cobham. com; Code FRA; Year Founded 1985. Descended from the Flight Refueling, Ltd. operation established by Sir Alan Cobham in the 1930s and partnered with an American subsidiary in 1953, FR Aviation is established in 1985 from the airfield division of Flight Refueling, Ltd. Over the next decade, FR will be noted for its support of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force threat simulation programs. FR Aviation will also operate a major maintenance subsidiary.
In support of the military, the company flies what will become, by 1994, the world’s largest fleet of Dassault Falcon 20s. In addition to the 20 French-made transports, Managing Director Colin F. Jones’s fleet also includes 3 Dornier 228-200s employed for surveillance of the U. K. economic shore zone. Executive charter and freight services are also provided, the former with two Cessna Citations and a Pilatus-Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander. In November, FR Group, which has acquired several other concerns in the U. S. and France, is renamed Cobham Group. FR Aviation continues its activities as before.
On October 1, 1996, FR, Bristow Helicopters, Ltd., and Serco, Ltd. are awarded a ?400-million, 15-year contract to provide support for the Joint Service Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, and the School of Army Aviation at Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
Service continues over the next four years. Activities now include not only military contracts but environmental surveillance and fisheries patrol.
World History
