CEO Mark Gregory is raising a glass to his company, Air Salvage International (ASI), after a successful 25 years in the air.

Formed in 1997 and based at Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, ASI are said to have made a name for themselves as one of the world's largest privately owned disassembly and recovery companies

The unique business that ASI launched back in 1997 enabled owners of retired commercial aircraft to make a positive step forward in responding to pressure to reduce their global footprint.

Said to be the first company in Europe to offer the service, ASI's own in-house manpower also enabled them to fulfil the rapidly growing demand for quality recycled aircraft parts, maximising the value of their assets.

Mark and his team have since worked on more than 900 disassembly and recovery projects over the last 25 years, including some in remote locations such as Togo, Sudan, Ecuador, Libya, and Costa Rica, and have built up a valued global customer base including banks, lessors, insurers, component providers, airlines, and UK Government Agencies.

The company also has the capacity to dismantle, move and rebuild aircraft. It's carried out this task on more than 30 commercial and military aircraft to date.

In 2004, ASI was awarded the prestigious contract by British Airways to dismantle and then reassemble two Concorde aircraft at their destination UK museums.

CEO Mark Gregory said: "It is difficult to pat yourself on the back, but I have certainly fulfilled my dream of forming a successful and sustainable aviation business.

"I also believe that we have been and are currently part of a driving force behind delivering sustainable and environmentally responsible services in the global aircraft disassembly sector which makes me very proud".

As one of the original founding members of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) back in 2006, ASI's practices are said to have contributed to the association's Best Management Practices (BMPs) which significantly improves the management of end-of-life aircraft in terms of environmental and sustainable performance and are used worldwide throughout the industry today.

ASI affiliates GC Aviation Maintenance (GCAM) and Skyline Aero are also based at the same Cotswold site.

"The three businesses complement each other, providing component suppliers, lessors, insurers, airlines, and banks with a unique 'one-stop-shop' facility to store aircraft whilst evaluating asset optimisation," Mr Gregory added.

The company employs 26 staff who are mainly from the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire area.

"I could not have done it without the support of a great team around me, from way back then to now.

"As a company we have always had a strong commitment to meeting customer needs and reducing global footprint by providing consistent, quality driven services that are continually audited through ISO (2015) 9001/14001 and AFRA. In fact, we were the first company worldwide to be awarded the AFRA accreditation. Here's to another 25 years."