UK-based Dowty Propellers has inaugurated a new 183,000 sq ft facility in Brockworth, Gloucester that brings together its primary resources in one place: from the full production process for its propeller systems to administrative offices, design and engineering teams, as well as the Dowty Propellers Repair and Overhaul (DPRO) centre, the UK arm of its global support network. This latter addition provides additional synergy with the company's design engineers, production specialists and support teams. There also are DPRO centres in Sterling, Virginia, US and Brisbane, Australia, as well as a team of field service engineers deployed around the world for field repairs.

The Brockworth facility will incorporate technologies for the production, control, repair and in-service support of the company's propeller systems, which are used on turboprop and turboshaft engines. It replaces the original headquarters and blade manufacturing facility that was destroyed by fire in February 2015. To enable the continuation of operations, the company purchased new production equipment and created an interim blade manufacturing facility in the Gloucestershire area at Mitcheldean. This equipment is now being transferred into the new building, which is to become fully operational in the first half of 2020.

“The inauguration underscores Dowty Propellers' firm commitment to continuing its leadership in creating, manufacturing and supporting the most sustainable, efficient and robust propeller systems,” says president Oliver Towers. “It is also an unequivocal testament to our employees, who met the challenge of literally rebuilding the company from the ground up in what is widely seen as one of the most remarkable recoveries in the aviation industry.”

As a GE Aviation business, within hours of the February 2015 fire, core Dowty teams had been relocated a few kilometres away to GE Aviation offices in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, where they were provided with telephones, computers and system connectivity. Post-fire recovery efforts ensured that the supply and support of propeller blades and their related control systems continued unabated. This enabled airframers to maintain the production line cadence for new-build airplanes, while airlines and military operators kept their aircraft fleets flying.

A reset plan then focused on three elements: keeping Dowty Propellers-equipped fleets flying; rapidly re-establishing the composite propeller blade production capability; and retaining the company's ranks of skilled employees. This was successfully carried out, with Dowty Propellers meeting its milestones during the four years that followed, including the timing for the inauguration ceremony.