By Doug Maclean – Aviation Editor.
Almost half a century ago Scottish aviation pioneer Adam Thomson helped establish an aircraft engine overhaul factory at Prestwick, creating a business which would provide skilled employment in Ayrshire and become part of the international aviation industry.
He had formed the very successful Caledonian Airways (Prestwick) Ltd in 1961 and when he later moved the airline headquarters south to Gatwick he is believed to have said that he wished to leave a lasting legacy at Prestwick.
My historic photograph of the Duke of Edinburgh arriving by Royal Flight Wessex helicopter was taken on 3rd July 1980. I took the picture from the Control Tower at Prestwick as the Royal party made their way into the new Caledonian Airmotive engine overhaul factory for the official opening.
Today GE Aerospace has announced plans for a major expansion of that same business. The American owners of the business are investing £30 million of their own money in an act of faith in the Prestwick site and staff. Added to that is £27 million from the Ayrshire Growth Deal and another £6 million from Scottish Enterprise. That brings the overall investment to £63 million, with the prospect of around 150 additional jobs over the next five years.
For Adam Thomson, Prestwick was more than simply another airport.
Born in Glasgow in 1926, Thomson was an ex-BEA Viscount pilot who became one of the most influential figures in British independent aviation. He co-founded Caledonian Airways with John de la Haye and subsequently built British Caledonian into a major international airline.
Thomson also recognised that the aviation industry offered opportunities extending far beyond operating passenger aircraft. One of those opportunities was the maintenance and overhaul of the powerful jet engines used by the world's airlines.
A new industry for Prestwick.
In April 1978, Caledonian Airmotive Limited was established as part of the British Caledonian group.
The company developed a purpose-built aircraft engine overhaul facility at Prestwick, bringing a new type of highly specialised aviation engineering work to Ayrshire.
Engine overhaul operations began in February 1980, and the factory was officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh on 3rd July that year.
Today, GE Caledonian's principal overhaul work involves the newer GEnx engines fitted to Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 747-8 aircraft.
From Caledonian Airmotive to GE Aerospace.
The Prestwick engine overhaul business passed through several changes of ownership after its establishment by British Caledonian.
In September 1997, the Prestwick factory became part of General Electric when GE Engine Services completed its acquisition of Greenwich Air Services, which then owned the business.
The Prestwick operation subsequently became known as GE Aerospace Caledonian.
Today, the factory specialises in maintaining and overhauling large commercial jet engines, including the General Electric GEnx engines used on Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 747-8 aircraft.
An engine arriving at Prestwick may have travelled thousands of miles from the airline operating it.
A Scottish Government economic assessment published in 2025 recorded around 780 full-time-equivalent employees at GE Caledonian, with approximately 50 apprentices and around 200 engine maintenance projects undertaken annually.
Those figures illustrate just how far the original Caledonian Airmotive business has developed since its early days.
Another major investment in Prestwick.
GE Aerospace has now announced that it will invest £30 million as part of a £63 million total investment in expanding and modernising its Prestwick facility.
The development includes construction of a new 55,000 square foot building, together with improvements to the layout, access and movement of engines and components around the site. This is almost certainly the “mystery” Aerospace building on Shawfarm Road which has recently been given planning permission.
The investment is supported by £27 million from the Ayrshire Growth Deal. This comprises of £18 million from the UK Government, £8 million from the Scottish Government and £1 million from South Ayrshire Council.
A further £6 million investment from the Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise will bring today’s overall investment to £63 million.
The project is expected to be fully operational during the first quarter of 2028.
The aircraft engine business is rapidly expanding, assisted by orders like the one last year by Qatar Airways, who ordered 400 GE engines. The order comprised of a variety of engine models.
GE Aerospace says expansion of the Prestwick site will provide additional capacity to meet future demand from airline customers.
The company also intends to recruit around 150 additional workers over the next five years.
Andy Prow, Site Leader at GE Aerospace Prestwick, said:
“This investment reflects GE Aerospace’s commitment to our customers and to the future of our Prestwick site. By expanding and modernising the facility with the help of government partners, we are improving capacity, operational flow and readiness for future demand, while helping hire and train additional workers from the area.”
Scottish Enterprise has welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of the Prestwick factory to Scotland's aerospace industry and international exports.
Reuben Aitken, Managing Director, Investment & International at Scottish Enterprise, said:
“GE Aerospace's investment builds on decades of engineering expertise at Prestwick and the site's role within its global operations. By expanding capacity and enhancing productivity, it will strengthen the site's competitiveness, increase its already significant contribution to Scotland's exports and create new opportunities for skilled workers.”
“It's a strong endorsement of the people, skills and capabilities that exist in Ayrshire, while reinforcing Scotland's reputation as an attractive destination for international investment in aerospace.”
The announcement is particularly encouraging for young people considering a career in aviation engineering.
GE Aerospace has also announced a £75,000 donation to Ayrshire College to support new training equipment and a course designed to prepare students for careers in the aerospace industry.
Siobhan Brown, MSP Ayr said “Another good news day for Ayrshire with GE Aerospace’s announcement of this multi million pound investment in aircraft maintenance at Prestwick Airport, including £14 million through the Scottish Government”
“This is excellent news for Ayrshire, bringing the potential for skilled jobs, new opportunities for local people, to attract talent to the sector and reinforce Prestwick’s position as a leading UK aerospace location.”
Ms Brown concluded by saying “It was lovely to have the Deputy First Minister, Jenny Gilruth in Prestwick this morning for the announcement and for her to meet with local apprentices at GE Aerospace and hear how this thriving industry is so vital to our local economy.”
A growing connection with China
The recent boom in freight aircraft operating between Prestwick and China also fits nicely with today's announcement about the future of GE Aerospace at Prestwick.
Air China and China Southern are the biggest Chinese carriers to operate through Prestwick. Both operate aircraft powered by GEnx engines, the same family of engines that are overhauled at GE Caledonian.
One of these engines, following maintenance at Prestwick, was recently flown back to China aboard an Air China Cargo Boeing 777 freighter.
It is an interesting example of how the airport's growing air freight operations can support the specialist engineering businesses based in Ayrshire.
Today's expansion plans could therefore mean good business not only for GE Aerospace and its employees, but also for Prestwick Airport, with the potential for more aircraft engines and other high-value aerospace equipment to be transported between Scotland and international customers.
A lasting contribution to Ayrshire.
Adam Thomson died in May 2000, but the business he helped establish at Prestwick has continued to grow and develop. His legacy continues.
The aircraft engines being overhauled today are very different from those which arrived at Caledonian Airmotive in 1980. The engineering techniques, equipment and technology have changed enormously, but the essential purpose of the factory remains the same.
It provides skilled employment in Ayrshire while supporting aircraft operating throughout the world.
There is something particularly satisfying about seeing a business established during the British Caledonian era continuing to attract substantial investment nearly fifty years later.
Adam Thomson could hardly have imagined the sophisticated Boeing 787 engines which would one day be overhauled at Prestwick, or the scale of the international organisation which would eventually own the facility.
But the decision to establish Caledonian Airmotive gave Prestwick an opportunity to develop specialist engineering skills which have been passed on through generations of employees and apprentices.
Today's announcement by GE Aerospace is another important chapter in that history.
Prestwick is genuinely the heart of Scottish Aviation.