BAE SYSTEMS TO OPEN AIRCRAFT SUPPORT SPARES HUB IN MIAMI FOR CUSTOMERS IN AMERICAS

Feb. 14, 2012

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft intends to open a support and services hub by placing a quantity of BAe 146/Avro RJ and Jetstream 41 consumable and rotable spares into an existing Miami warehouse facility to serve its growing customer base in the Americas for these aircraft.

For these services BAE Systems will develop a partnership with leading global logistics company Kuehne + Nagel, who provide regional logistic aerospace support solutions globally and will support BAE Systems in Miami as part of the ‘Supply The Sky’ aerospace logistics portfolio.

This new initiative is part of Regional Aircraft’s Latin American Support strategy which is designed to better service the existing and new operators in the region. It follows a successful Latin American Support Conference held last year in Lima, Peru at which the intention to offer more regionalised support to provide a more responsive service to these operators was declared.

Although BAE Systems examined the potential for warehousing spares stock in various South American countries, the attractions of Miami as a powerful air transport hub with excellent pan-Latin American air connections rapidly became apparent. Following a competitive tender, Kuehne + Nagel have been selected as the preferred logistics provider.

The identified spares stock will be despatched from BAE Systems’ warehouse at Weybridge, Surrey, direct to Kuehne + Nagel’s facility in Miami and replenished in batches as necessary.

Sean McGovern, Business Director Support for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft said today:

“The growing popularity of the BAe 146/Avro RJ in particular in South America has meant that we have had to re-evaluate the way we support this market to give operators a more responsive service. In turn this gives us opportunities to grow our support revenues through improved customer service and new lines of business in the region.”

‘’ We are proud that BAE Systems selected Kuehne + Nagel’s aerospace logistic solution to serve their customers in the Americas out of Miami. The provision of aerospace logistics services requires a specific focus and dedicated treatment with special knowledge of the aerospace industry. The regional solutions are part of the Kuehne + Nagel ‘’Supply The Sky’ product portfolio of aerospace tailor-made logistic solutions”, explained Erik Goedhart, Senior Vice President Aerospace of Kuehne + Nagel Management AG.

Within the scope of its “Supply the Sky” programme, Kuehne + Nagel offers an integrated range of logistics services for the aerospace industry. The company develops and delivers customised aerospace solutions for manufacturers, leasing companies, airlines and service providers in the field of maintenance, repair, overhaul, ground handling and in-flight services.

Operators of the BAe 146 in South America currently include Star Peru, Aerovias DAP in Chile, and Transporte Aereo Militar and Minera San Cristobal in Bolivia. In Venezuela a new carrier, LaMia, is in the process of obtaining its Air Operators Certificate which, when granted, will allow it to operate four Avro RJ85s it is acquiring from CityJet of Ireland. The major Jetstream 41 operator on the Continent is EasyFly in Colombia.

Kuehne + Nagel’s Miami warehouse will also be used to service the North American market, where a number of new operators of the BAe 146/Avro RJ85 are emerging. North Cariboo Air of British Columbia, Canada has acquired a BAe 146 - its first jet airliner, for use in FIFO (Fly-in; Fly-out) mining and oil support transport. Recently Conair of Canada acquired an Avro RJ85 for conversion to an Airtanker and a number of BAe 146s are also under conversion for the Airtanker role.