14 | Tinshed Aviation - Greg Chapman Building T T Richard Loader Business born from a passion for planes Specialising in the restoration, maintenance and structural repair of aircraft, Tinshed Aviation hopes to move into its new, purpose-built home early next year at Alexandra Airport. “After purchasing the aircraft we transported her back to my lifestyle block, which had an old tin shed on it. That’s where we began the full restoration in our spare time, and how the name Tinshed was born.” Nestled on Alexandra Airport in Central Otago, a new hangar and offices are taking shape for Tinshed Aviation, a brand-new company with a big horizon that may deliver significant benefits to the local community. Specialising in the restoration, maintenance and structural repair of aircraft, Tinshed Aviation is currently operating from a leased hangar at the airport, and hopes to move into its new, purpose-built home early next year. “The facility has been designed with the company’s future growth plans in mind, with hangar space encompassing 840sqm, and two-storey offices running the full length of the building, six metres wide. While XL Structural has built the superstructure, local builder Greg Chapman Building is doing the internal fit-out and offices. Tinshed Aviation’s journey started in 2016 when three good mates, Bryan Jones, Henry Worthington and Arron Cooper, who shared a passion for aviation, joined forces to buy and resurrect a Cessna 172M that had sat around REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T to page 16 dismantled for several years in a maintenance hangar at an Invercargill airfield. Bryan is the CEO of Southern Wings, the Invercargill-based pilot training and flight school in Invercargill, Henry was an aircraft engineer, and Arron has held his private pilot’s licence since 2004, and has a background in the automotive industry as well as contracts/ projects management. “We ended up leasing the restored Cessna to Southern Wings, and straightaway found an old Piper Cub that had sat in a Southland Woolshed for 21 years,” says Arron. “After purchasing the aircraft we transported her back to my lifestyle block, which had an old tin shed on it. That’s where we began the full restoration in our spare time, and how the name Tinshed was born.” In 2022, Henry suddenly passed away, leaving a profound impact on his mates, who began to truly appreciate how short life can be. “Bryan and I decided to turn our hobby into more than just a sideline venture and form a company focused on aircraft restoration, maintenance and structural repairs. The name Tinshed Aviation was kept as a tribute to our mate, who was there from the start and continues on in our daily thoughts.” Arron was looking at relocating to Alexandra and approached the Central Otago District Council with the business idea, with Alexandra as an option, and was met with a “let’s make it happen” response. Operations commenced in October last year, with Arron and Bryan as directors. While Arron runs the business in Alexandra as the maintenance manager, Cameron Fahey has been employed as chief engineer. “At 51, it’s a bit daunting starting a new business, but we’re doing it for all the right reasons. I’m very fortunate at this stage of life to turn a hobby and a passion into a job, but we don’t really see it as a job because we love coming to work. “We love the industry, we love aeroplanes and we saw an opportunity to provide our customers with a high level of service and quality workmanship, and that’s how we’re hoping to grow our business. “A big part of that is open and honest communication with the customer. Word of mouth and feedback has been very good and we’re looking at hiring another aircraft engineer pretty soon.” AIRPORT RD, ALEXANDRA 9391 CALL GREG: 027-234-1422 Proud to be Main Contractors Supporting Twilight Hangars & Tin Shed Aviation GREGCHAPMANBUILDERS
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