AVIATION firm Cloud Global has demonstrated its growth ambitions with the acquisition of ACS Aviation – a flight training specialist that is also the operator of Perth Airport.
The purchase of ACS will create an operation with a combined turnover of £3.5 million and Graeme Frater, managing director of Cloud Global, said there was scope to double revenue in the next three years as the two companies aligned their respective skills.
Cloud Global’s turnover for 2015/16 was £2.5m.
“Our strategy of developing various divisions has proven very successful and this deal will allow us to explore new opportunities to add to our client list,” said Mr Frater.
He noted the two businesses had worked together for years, with ACS being recognised for its engineering and flight training. Cloud Global is known for its leasing and parts business – and its recruitment division, aviationmatch.com, which recruits pilots and engineers for the likes of Emirates and Etihad.
Mr Frater said both firms would retain their brand names.
“ACS has a good name, especially for flight training. It is renowned worldwide so we’re keen to keep that name and continue growing it,” he said.
“There is a very highly skilled team operating at ACS and we look forward to working with them to take the business forward. Although we will look to share information and skills, there are no plans to lose the company name or relocate any aspects of the business.”
Cloud Global, based at Glasgow airport, will utilise ACS’ engineering expertise to maintain its existing fleet of 10 aircraft and use the expanded scale to grow the firms’ combined fleet of 18 over the longer term.
“We’ll be adding around six aircraft over the next year to 18 months plus we’ve just started a programme of upgrading the current fleet of aircraft,” said Mr Frater.
“[Our] biggest cost is engineering, so we will be bringing that to Scotland from maintenance organisations in the north of England over the next six months,” said Mr Frater. "It makes sense for us to bring our own aircraft in-house.”
The deal will also see the combined operation’s workforce expand to 20 with the addition of 16 staff from ACS. A further two staff will begin in January.
Cloud Global’s client base includes 20 airlines across four continents including medical companies transporting organs or repatriating injured holidaymakers, and pilot training firms.
The company was formed in 2010 by Mr Frater, technical director Craig McDonald and commercial director Craig Ewart.
Current ACS Aviation managing director, Allan Falconer, will be leaving the business to pursue other commercial opportunities, with Mr Frater taking on the additional position of ACS managing director.
ACS Aviation has been in existence since 2007, providing both private and commercial pilot training facilities, in addition to engineering and maintenance services for private and commercial operators in Scotland.
As operator of Perth Airport it also oversees the home of the Scottish Aero Club, Scotland’s oldest and largest flying club.
Mr Frater said the impact of Brexit would not hinder the company’s expansion, and it had benefitted from exchange rate gains on aircraft leased in the Eurozone.
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