Mike Farge, ceo of Club328 based in Southampton, U.K., has died aged 59. A tribute was held in October at the Westland Sports and Social Club in Yeovil, Somerset where he served his apprenticeship.

He started his career with the Westland Group - Normalair Garrett in 1968, and was executive director-customer support by 1990. He then joined British Aerospace and served in many senior roles, including senior vp, customer support.

After BAe he joined FLS Aerospace as md and played a key role in turning around the business, having successfully brought together Dan Air Engineering and FFV Aerotech to form FLS Aerospace Engineering.

In 1994 he joined Meggitt PLC, initially as md of Coltax Aerospace, before moving to md Asia Pacific, responsible for all marketing, sales and customer support across the group's aerospace, electronics and industrial controls businesses. In 1999 he became ceo of CASCO, the independently owned spares parts and aviation support business.

Mike Farge joined Club328, parent company Corporate Jet Services, in July 2004. He joined, initially,

as md, engineering and created Jet Engineering Technical Support (J.E.T.S), the now established business aircraft engineering specialist at Southampton. He was appointed ceo of Club328 in April 2005.

He leaves a son James, and wife, Anne.

Tony Shakesby, head of finance at Club328 says: "Mike had been bravely battling with leukaemia. His passing is an immense loss to Corporate Jet Services Ltd and to the international aviation industry as a whole. Mike was immensely popular and during his 40 years in the business he made many friends and will be much missed."