Jobs boost for Perthshire chopper firm Vector Aerospace

Nearly 200 jobs have been secured at a Perthshire aviation business.

Vector Aerospace, which came under threat five years ago, has announced a new deal to branch out into the lucrative world of private, commercial and celebrity-owned helicopters.

The Perth-based firm has been traditionally linked with the maintenance and repair of military aircraft components.

But bosses said they had to make changes after swingeing defence cuts.

Managing director Michael Tyrrell said the plant’s change-of-direction gives the Almondbank company “the opportunity to work with a new, more global customer base, offering support to a fleet of helicopters of which more than 5,000 are flying today.”

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has paid tribute to the plant’s workforce, who he said were instrumental in securing the new contract.

See Thursday’s Courier for more on this story.