Cars. British Belting & Asbestos was also active in the aviation sector. During the Second World War, the company produced materials used on several British military aircraft, including the Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, and Hawker Typhoon. During 1967, the company opted to rebrand itself under the name BBA Group. During this period, it was largely focused upon the production of automotive materials. By the early 1980s, BBA Group was the world's largest supplier of brake pads within the automotive industry. In 1986, BBA Group made its first major approach into the aviation sector via its acquisition of APPH, a British business that specialised in aircraft undercarriages and hydraulics; shortly thereafter, it also bought a similar business based in North America. During 1992, the company was involved in the creation of Signature Flight Support through the merger of Page Avjet, an executive aircraft interiors business, and Butler fixed base operations. In 1996, BBA Group took full ownership of Signature Flight Support. By this point, the company was structured into two major divisions: Aviation, and Materials Technologies. During 1996, BBA Group purchased Trinity Aerospace Engineering; in 1998, the company moved into jet engine repair and overhaul through the acquisitions of H+S Aviation from Vector Industries, and UNC Airwork Corp, formerly a unit of American conglomerate General Electric. By 1998, Signature Flight Support had expanded to possess the world's largest chain of fixed base operators (FBOs), operating a total of 41 facilities across the globe. Twenty-first century During 2000, BBA Group conducted a major divestment, selling off its Mintex brake pad division in exchange for £389m. Around this time, the company also diversified into the flight training sector, purchasing Oxford Aviation, then the largest professional pilot training organisation in Europe, for £55.4 million. During the following year, BBA Group bought American business Aircraft Service International Group ('ASIG'), the acquisition of which reportedly doubled the firm's presence in the commercial ground handling market, for $25m. During 2002, the group's chief executive Roy McGlone stated that management's strategy at that point was to focus on its FBO ventures and to dispose of non-core businesses. As a sign of the company's changes, BBA Group was reclassified upon the London Stock Exchange from the engineering sector to the transport sector. During 2006, BBA Group opted to demerge its materials technology division, which developed and manufactured nonwoven materials used in the hygiene and medical markets and in numerous