Bombardier says its nearly 50-strong service centre network has conducted more than 200 heavy maintenance inspections on Challenger business jet family aircraft, which have to be carried out every eight years.
The Canadian airframer boasts a global in-service fleet of 1,600 Challenger-series aircraft, which includes the large-cabin 600 – introduced in the late 1970s – and the 601, 604, 605 and 650, along with the super-midsize 300 and 350 and the CRJ200 regional jet-derived 850/890.
Together the fleet has logged more than 7.3 million flight hours and made more than 4.3 million landings, Bombardier says.
The 96-month inspection – described by Bombardier as “one of the most in-depth maintenance events in the aircraft’s lifecycle” – involves a thorough examination of the airframe, structure and landing gear.
Bombardier is steadily growing its global customer support network, with new maintenance centres at London Biggin Hill airport in the UK and Tianjin, China added in 2016.
Source: Flight International