A BRITISH-OWNED company, specialising in servicing and maintaining Russian light aircraft, has begun operating in Pembrokeshire.

Russian Aero Limited has been officially appointed as the sole UK representative of the Russian FLA - the licensing authority for light aircraft. The company has moved into a new hangar complex at Withybush Airport, Haverfordwest, and hopes to create between three to five jobs.

Russian Aero director, Keith Elcomb, who lives in Rosebush, said: This heralds a new and exciting aviation-related project in Pembrokeshire.

Withybush Airport is, without doubt, one of the countys major assets and is probably the finest licensed airfield in Wales after Cardiff International. We are confident that a specialist aero-engineering facility of excellence can be established at Withybush and expect many owners of Russian aircraft to use our services.

In conjunction with a top class flying school and air charter service, Withybush Airport now hosts the UK centre for the Russian Federation FLA.

The news has been warmly welcomed by the airports owners, Pembrokeshire County Council.

Director of development, Roger Barrett-Evans, said he was delighted that another airport business is being established in Haverfordwest.

He said: This will compliment the existing aircraft maintenance company on site and demonstrates that the airport is continuing its expansion to extend air facilities to South-West Wales.

We look forward to the continuing expansion of Mr Elcombs new business and to becoming the main servicing base for Eastern European countries flag-aircraft based in the UK. This should lead to many more unusual visiting aircraft.

Mr Barrett-Evans added that consultants are currently exploring the possibilities of further development of schedule and freight flights from Haverfordwest over the coming months.

Several Russians, including the chief engineer of the Russian FLA, have already flown from Moscow to visit the new hangar.

An official opening ceremony is planned for October.

Russian Aero Limited is jointly owned by Keith and Isobel Elcomb and Andy and Lucy Swain. All have many years of commercial business experience of electronics, refrigeration and mechanical engineering.

Said Mr Elcomb: Our company has established an excellent relationship with some of the principal Russian aircraft factories and their senior managers.

SINCE the collapse of the Soviet system in the early 1990s, an increasing number of Russian-designed and manufactured light aircraft have been imported into the UK. It is estimated that there are over 120 such aircraft currently operating in Great Britain.

Admired for their build quality and powerful performance, they require specialised servicing and maintenance. Although spare parts are available within the Russian Federation, they are sometimes difficult to acquire for export to Europe. As a result, many owners of Russian light aircraft experience difficulties in getting access to skilled maintenance facilities.

Caption: Keith Elcomb (foreground) with Roger Barrett-Evans and Councillor Tom Richards (chairman of the county councils leisure and economic development committee) at the new Hangar Four unit. Andy Swain is sitting in the pilots seat of Mr Elcombs Yak 18T, a Russian light aircraft he has been restoring at Withybush Airport.