A new £700,000 aircraft maintenance, repair and avionics design facility at St Angelo Airport in Enniskillen will go ahead with support from Invest NI.

The decision by Surrey based company London Helicopters (LHC) to set up the facility came after research showed a steady increase in the number of people across the island of Ireland owning helicopters.

After considering possible locations in the Republic of Ireland, the company chose Enniskillen because of the skills availability, logistical factors and the support offered by Invest NI, which was brokered through its Western Regional Office.

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Mr Mark Souster, Managing Director of LHC says: "LHC is the largest independent helicopter maintenance organisation in the British isles. We are confident that there is a significant business opportunity in Ireland which now has the highest number of helicopters per head of population anywhere in the EU. Northern Ireland and St Angelo's Airport offers us the perfect base from which to service the market right across the island of Ireland."

Welcoming the investment, Invest NI's Chief Executive Leslie Morrison said: "Enniskillen is an ideal location for this type of business. This is the second investment by a helicopter company in the area in the last 12 months and the market potential is clear. The company will be operating in a market which is niche, growing steadily and at the moment, under-serviced in Ireland."

Invest NI's support will help the company with management salaries, marketing activity and management information systems.

(GK/JM)