Bombardier Bolsters Support in Europe and Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of its Schiphol Service Centre

May 12, 2011
The company will soon offer its business aircraft customers greater flexibility for scheduling light to heavy maintenance tasks by adding shifts and increasing staffing levels by 30 per cent in 2011.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire - May 12, 2011) - Bombardier Aerospace today left no doubt that it is building one of the most comprehensive service and maintenance networks in the industry by boosting capacity at its wholly owned Schiphol Service Centre in Amsterdam, providing its customers with enhanced Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) support in Europe.

With the Bombardier Schiphol Service Centre completing its first full year of operation on May 1, the company will soon offer its business aircraft customers greater flexibility for scheduling light to heavy maintenance tasks by adding shifts and increasing staffing levels by 30 per cent in 2011. In addition, the facility will extend its capabilities to include Challenger 850 aircraft and expand its expertise in interior refurbishment for all Bombardier business jets later this year. The Schiphol Service Centre offers 4,240 sq. meters (45,639 sq. feet) of hangar space and currently staffs 50 employees.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the success of the Schiphol Service Centre, as it underscores our commitment to expand our service and maintenance expertise outside of our traditional North-American market," said Michael McQuay, President, Bombardier Aircraft Service Centres. "We are eagerly looking forward to boosting our capabilities and supporting to our customer base in Europe."

As such, the company is strengthening its capacity to provide AOG support in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by increasing staffing of its Mobile Response Team (MRT) by 30 per cent. Currently, six EASA-licensed technical and maintenance experts, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, are available around the clock to perform AOG maintenance in the region. Bombardier will add two more engineers by July 2011.

Bombardier's MRT works closely with the company's PartsExpress airborne parts delivery service, launched in the U.S. in 2007 and in Europe in 2009. Since January 2011, PartsExpress has performed 28 flights.

More than 580 Bombardier business jets are based in Europe and the CIS countries.

"With these ongoing investments, our goal is to raise the bar for customer services to better support our customers, both in Europe and worldwide," said James Hoblyn, President, Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft, Bombardier Aerospace. In the past six months, Bombardier has launched a series of bold initiatives to drive its service and support to the next level.

-- Airborne parts delivery service based in Dubai

Bombardier opened a new Regional Support Office (RSO) in Dubai and expanded its PartsExpress service into the Middle East, parts of Asia and Africa.

-- Expansion in China and Latin America

Bombardier inaugurated a new RSO and parts depot in Hong Kong, and named STAECO, in Jinan, a new Line Maintenance Facility (LMF). Service capabilities were also boosted in Latin America, with Mexico's Aerovitro S.A. appointed an Authorized Service Facility for Challenger 300 and Challenger 604/605 aircraft and Aviacion Atlantico Sur S.A. in Argentina as an LMF for Challenger 604/605 aircraft.

-- Groundbreaking Parts Satisfaction Guarantee

Bombardier launched a Parts Satisfaction Guarantee, setting high standards on parts performance and accountability. Shipping, labour and restocking charges are waived in applicable situations.

About the Bombardier Aircraft Service Centre Network

Bombardier's Service Centres are complemented by an extensive network of 52 Authorized Service Facilities (ASFs) and AOG Line Maintenance Facilities (LMFs) (including 47 for business aircraft and five for commercial airliners) located in 26 countries and six continents around the world.

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2011, were $17.7 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @BombardierInc.