A WEST Oxfordshire firm has landed a £400,000 deal to supply aircraft refuelling tankers to Burma.

Standlake-based Flightline Support, one of the first British companies to clinch orders in the Asian country since trade sanctions were lifted 12 months ago, has sent two tankers to the airport in Yangon.

The vehicles, which hold 20,000 litres of fuel and are worth £200,000 each, took five months to build at the firm’s factory in Lakeside Industrial Park.

Designed to withstand tropical climates, they include a 4.2m platform and are used to fuel large passenger jets, smaller aircraft and helicopters.

Oxford Mail:

  • Marketing manager Richard Lewis

Three-quarters of Flightline Support’s £8m turnover comes from outside the UK, including east and west Africa, the Middle East and Siberia.

It recently netted orders worth £350,000 in Pakistan, £200,000 in Morocco and £160,000 in Kenya.

The business was set up 30 years ago to supply the Royal Air Force but clients now include companies such as Shell, Conoco, BP, KLM and Total.

Sales and marketing manager Richard Lewis said: “When the trade restrictions were lifted and the doors were opened to Burma, we immediately wanted to step up.

“This tender came in and we worked closely with our local partner company in Burma, who provide fuel and fuelling expertise, to secure the deal.

“Word really spread around the region about the deal and we’ve had enquiries from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, which are all very strong growth markets where airport development is on the up.

“We are experienced exporters and supply 90 countries, so our vehicles are built to suit the individual client.

“That could mean they need to operate in a tropical climate like Burma, or the freezing temperatures of Siberia.”

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