GENEVA, SWITZERLAND | May 22, 2019 - GE Aviation has strengthened its service and support network in critical regions where the Passport-powered Bombardier Global 7500 and CF34-powered Challenger series aircraft and customers are based.
GE Aviation named Bombardier’s Tianjin Service Centre in China as an Authorized Service Center for GE’s Passport and CF34-3 engines in April. With the announcement, GE has combined Passport and CF34-3 Authorized Service Centre agreements in place at eight Bombardier Service Centre facilities around the world. These include Tianjin in China, Biggin Hill in England, Singapore, and Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Wichita and Tucson in the United States. GE also has services agreements in place with Bombardier’s European line station network, and the fleet of US-based mobile repair trucks.
“GE’s enduring and collaborative relationship with Bombardier continues as we expand our service network around the world,” said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation’s Business & General Aviation and Integrated Services organization. “Together, we strive to provide service and support that exceed our customers’ expectations for quality and timeliness. These locations offer additional convenience for our customers, so we can meet their needs globally, wherever they need us.”
GE has a maintenance support agreement with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey GmbH (LTAA) for dispatching mobile repair teams to locations outside the United States. LTAA’s mobile repair teams will have 10 dedicated technicians to support GE Passport operations. LTAA has been a member of GE’s Authorized Service Center network for CF34-series engines since October 2014.
The GE Strother mobile repair team is providing support in the Americas. Both the Strother and LTAA mobile repair teams supported the Global 7500 aircraft flight test program for Passport to gain operational experience with the engine and ensure concierge-style service in parallel with entry into service. Both GE and LTAA have received 145 certification for the Passport engine.
“We’ve got a great customer support organization around the world from our partnered service centers and mobile repair teams,” said Jim Stoker, general manager for business and general aviation support for GE Aviation. “We’ve been beefing up our personnel, focusing on critical areas that we believe are going to have a higher concentration of Global 7500 business jets. That’s Asia, the Middle East, Australia, as well as the big regions like Europe and the U.S.
GE Aviation has also tested its system to make sure not only the people are in place to deliver world-class service, but that the parts and processes are ready as well.
“Over the last two years, our team has completed a significant number of simulations of potential service event scenarios ,” Stoker said. “We have stress-tested the entire process. We’re ready.”
GE’s OnPoint is a full coverage, concierge, flight hour, service program with no hidden costs uses its global network of service centers and mobile repair teams for 100% peace of mind OEM support. OnPoint for Passport covers the complete propulsion system and increases residual value and aircraft availability.
