Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill Service Center opened near the end of 2022 and is UK’s largest business aviation MRO.
“With the inauguration of the expanded London Biggin Hill Service Center on November 30, 2022, Bombardier continues to offer its European-based customers a comprehensive suite of service options to keep their aircraft at the ready. The new, larger facility at London Biggin Hill is close to 250,000 sq. ft., making it the largest business aviation MRO facility in the UK. It continues to be one of the most comprehensive service facilities in Europe,” said Christopher Debergh, vice president, OEM Parts and Services, Bombardier.
Located at the London Biggin Hill Airport, the service center offers customers a complete suite of heavy maintenance capabilities. The expanded facility is fully equipped to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, as well as modifications and avionics installations for Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
“The expansion also introduces sought-after capabilities and state-of-the-art installations, such as component painting and interior refurbishment capabilities, repair, wheel shop, battery shops and training rooms. The site also ensures a quick response to its customers’ heavy structural and repair needs,” said Debergh.
Founded in 1942 in Valcourt, Quebec by inventor and mechanic Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end business jets and recently celebrated 80 years of creativity and innovation in a variety of market segments.
“Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and servicing the world’s most exceptional business aircraft. Our Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance and reliability,” said Debergh.
The company has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in special-mission roles.
“Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Québec, and operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. With close to 14,000 employees worldwide, Bombardier’s robust customer support network includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and Australia,” Debergh said.
London Bound
One of the key challenges Bombardier has faced in London is developing a solid aerospace pipeline of talented aviation professionals to work at the London Biggin Hill facility, said Debergh.
“The global aerospace industry has gone through unprecedented times in 2022 with supply chain challenges and we fully understand the impact that this has had on our customers. We’ve been very quick to react and identify problems before they have escalated and have been successful in mitigating challenges with our proactive approach. We have also strategically increased inventories of critical components and raw materials and have been proactive in sending staff to key suppliers.
“The Bombardier aftermarket team has taken proactive steps to develop talented mechanical engineers to work at the site with the creation of a comprehensive apprenticeship program in concert with its training provider Marshall Skills Academy,” he continued.
The comprehensive 36-month apprenticeship program at this world-class facility provides thorough training for our apprentices in a technologically advanced workplace environment – with the possibility for full-time employment at the facility upon graduation.
With the extensive expansion complete, Debergh said, "more refinements are in the works at the service center to enhance the customer experience. For example, Bombardier will continue to work with its fixed-base operator JETEX to ensure customers have the very best concierge experience on site."
Sustainability also remains a top priority at all of Bombardier’s service facilities worldwide, and in the coming months, solar panels will be added in key locations at the London Biggin Hill Service Centre to reduce our environmental footprint.
“This strategic enhancement is projected to make up approximately 40% of the site’s electricity demand,” said Debergh.
With major expansions at the London Biggin Hill Service Centre, Singapore Service Centre and new facilities in Miami, Melbourne, Australia and Abu Dhabi, Bombardier added close to 1 million square feet of aftermarket services worldwide in 2022.
“We have also added a suite of new products and services throughout our service network to ensure we continue to deliver the best customer experience in business aviation,” Debergh said.
