Propulsion International Receives a Contract to Provide Its Group Maintenance Plan for the Honeywell TPE-331-10T Series Engines for Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Forestry

Oct. 22, 2014
The department currently operates a 690C and a 695B Twin Commander and that during the summer fire season each aircraft may average as much as 100 hours of flight time per month.

Hermosa Beach, CA  October 21, 2014 –– Chad Ahrens, Propulsion International’s Founder and CEO, announced today that the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, has awarded the company a contract to provide its unique Honeywell-backed Group Maintenance Plan (GMP) for the division’s two TPE-331-10T powered Twin Commander aircraft.

“During our summer fire season our two Twin Commanders act as first responder and air attack aircraft throughout Alaska,” stated Steve Edwards, Aviation Maintenance Inspector, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. “Therefore, it is critical that they are ready to dispatch anytime on short notice. One of the ways we ensure that is through ongoing maintenance to the aircraft and Honeywell engines. Propulsion International’s GMP program will help us meet that goal.”

Edwards explained that the department currently operates a 690C and a 695B Twin Commander and that during the summer fire season each aircraft may average as much as 100-hours of flight time per month.

 “We needed a program that would keep the engines maintained to a high standard while stabilizing costs,” he said. “Being a government agency, cost-control is number two behind engine reliability when it comes to our list of operational goals.”

“These two Commanders play critical roles in protecting Alaska’s beauty and natural resources and to know that our GMP will help them provide continued service, while assuring Alaska’s citizens the lowest possible maintenance costs is a terrific example of teaming with a customer to develop a solution,” Ahrens said. “One of the main factors in our GMP that helped attract the Alaska Division of Forestry to our program is the fact that the GMP is the only such global program backed by Honeywell.”

Edwards also said that another big factor in the department selecting the Propulsion International GMP was the fact that the enrollment plan held down the initial costs to a minimum and enrollment in the program would include bringing the four Honeywell TPE-331-10T engines up to the latest Service Bulletin compliance standards.

“Upgrading to the latest service bulletins is a major step in being able to operate to Honeywell’s extended inspection and overhaul program. Operators on GMP whose engines qualify for the extension can extend their Hot Section inspection to 3,500 hours and the Overhaul to 7,000 hours,” Ahrens said. “This adds value to the engines and aircraft, while dramatically reducing the operator’s hourly maintenance costs.”

“Whether they are flying a single aircraft or a large fleet, operators are looking for ways to help control the costs of maintaining and overhauling their Honeywell TPE-331-series engines,” he added. “Our unique GMP program will allow an operator to enroll in our group maintenance plan and start immediately saving on unscheduled repairs, hot sections and overhauls.”

About Propulsion International

Propulsion International provides Group Maintenance Plan (GMP) programs to business aircraft operators and commercial fleet operators for Honeywell’s TPE331-10, -11, -12, -14, and -10 conversion engines. GMP is a full coverage maintenance solution, customized to meet the requirements of the operator. Backed by Honeywell Aerospace, a TPE331 engine enrolled in GMP results in a serialized maintenance reserve account within Honeywell. All maintenance is performed at GMP eligible Honeywell authorized service centers worldwide. Enrollment can occur at any time in the engine’s life cycle and savings occur at major maintenance events, at each repair, and with each hour flown. In addition, PI offers an inspection interval extension for Part 91 operators, adding significantly to aircraft value. Programs are individually tailored to meet operator requirements and GMP can be transferred to the new owner at aircraft sale. For information visit: www.propulsioninternational.com