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Bell launches mobile maintenance service in Florida

By Vertical Mag | July 26, 2013

Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 34 seconds.

Bell Helicopter has launched a new pilot project that will see a service truck available to provide mobile maintenance to operators throughout Florida.
The truck, which will be based in Fort Lauderdale at Edwards Rotorcraft Solutions, Inc. (a Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility), was officially launched at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s Annual Conference & Exposition in Orlando, Fla., last week.
The mobile service truck (MST) will be equipped with 20 of the most frequently-needed parts for the servicing of Bell aircraft, kits for 100-hour and 300-hour inspections, as well as the various consumables and tools necessary to complete scheduled maintenance from progressive up to annual inspections. AOG assistance will also be available if required.
The development of the MST was inspired by the hugely-popular reception to fellow Textron subsidiary Cessna’s mobile service unit (MSU) vehicles, which were launched in 2008. The aircraft manufacturer now has numerous MSUs in operation across North America and Europe.
“Cessna developed the concept; they already have the infrastructure, they have all the trucks available, and Cessna approached us to see if we wanted to try the concept,” said Kimie Lishman, manager of business strategy in customer support & services for Bell Helicopter. “It’s bringing the service to the customer, and it has worked very well for Cessna. So, we’re trying it out to see if it works for us.”
The project has been in the works since January, but, as a pilot project, it’s a system that is still being perfected in terms of optimum application. 
“We’re going to be fluid and flexible obviously . . . until we get a good feel for how the trucks can be best utilized,” said David Burch, general manager of Edwards Rotorcraft Solutions. An example of this is the length of deployment for service. “We’re trying to [initially] set a limit at five days being on site, for one repair or one event. But if the customer is wishing Bell to do more, we can do it.” Another fluid aspect will be the selection of items carried on the truck — initially set as the “top 20” items requested for the demographics of the fleet the truck will be supporting.
In terms of economics, Lishman said that it would likely be less expensive for an operator to have the truck deployed to them for service, rather than incurring the cost of a flight to the service center. “Plus there’s the big convenience factor — the fact that the pilot doesn’t have to spend the whole day at the service center. . . . So there’s a soft benefit to the customer, too,” she added. 
A launch of the service nationwide is certainly being considered, but will be dependent on the reaction of customers during the pilot project. “We’ll see how this one goes first!” said Lishman.

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