Continental Motors Group cleared to purchase Mobile's Southern Avionics and Communications

FAIRHOPE, Alabama -- Continental Motors Group recently received government approval to purchase Mobile-based Southern Avionics and Communications. The acquisition would shore up the firm's' ability to provide avionics and aircraft interior maintenance, repair and overhaul services. 

Southern Avionics, with its 14 employees, will continue to operate as a division of Continental Motors. Located at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, the company has serviced aircraft ranging from large corporate jets to small personal planes.

Bill Stromberg, Continental Motors' associate vice president for sales and customer service, said the "transition" period will be about three months, during which Southern Avionics President Tom Greer will stay on to assist the changeover. 

Greer was not immediately available for comment.

Continental Motors Group reached an agreement in June to purchase the firm, seeking to boost its capabilities in the avionics business.

The company has 26 people working full-time in Fairhope at H.L. Sonny Callahan Airport, providing general aviation services.

"This is a marvelous addition for us because we had no avionics maintenance repair or installation capability at Fairhope." Stromberg said. "It is a further step in allowing us to provide one-stop shopping to folks that operate aircraft either for personal or for business use."

Using existing hangar space, Stromberg said the company will add a "maintenance extension" to the location at Brookley, which will require additional employees. The company will also bring avionics repair capabilities to Fairhope.

Purchasing Southern Avionics franchise was ideal given their success since starting in 1981, Stromberg said. He added, the company has a very large customer base, providing a very high quality product. And it is also a distributor for several avionics manufacturers.

"That gave us access to a market that we currently didn't have," Stromberg said.  

AVIC International Holding Corporation, which owns Continental Motors Group, was created in 1979. Headquartered in Beijing, it is majority-owned by Aviation Industries of China.

- Source:  http://www.al.com