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DEA Aviation, a specialist airborne operations company based in Retford, Nottinghamshire, aims to double its workforce to 450 and turnover to £100 million within five years. To achieve this, the company seeks a larger facility, ideally at the former RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire.

West Lindsey District Council supports this plan but the site is not available for sale until June 2026. DEA's director, Dicky Patounas, expressed urgency for a decision, noting that while Scampton is the top preference, alternative locations in Yorkshire and the Mediterranean are also being considered.

The Scampton site is expected to contribute £2 billion to the local economy over the next 15 years if developed. Patounas, a former RAF pilot and leader of the Red Arrows, will speak at an upcoming event focused on maximizing Lincolnshire's defense, food, and technology sectors.