JSSI expands its global contract mx network by Amy Laboda Niki Lauda is set to become the latest European client for hourly-cost maintenance provider Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). The Austrian former Formula 1 race car driver and airliner entrepreneur is to sign up his new Bombardier Global 5000 business jet for the company’s Platinum program here at the EBACE show. JSSI has more than 400 European
clients, two years after improving responsiveness to international clients, having opened offices at the London-area Farnborough Airport in April 2010. It is 20 years since it signed up its first European operator in 1992, and now the U.S.based group is setting its sights on markets further afield in the Middle East and Asia. In addition to power-by-the-hour engine
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technical advisor in mainland China. “The trend in Asia is bigger, newer, large cabin long-range,” JSSI chairman and CEO Louis Seno told AIN. “We recognize that and we have really upped our support contracts, JSSI also offers its Tip- support with those aircraft because we to-Tail programs covering the airframe, are expecting substantial growth there.” Seno said that finding loaner engines engines, APU and avionics. These include all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for some larger jets can be a problem. JSSI for a fixed rate per flight hour. To keep has purchased a pair of BR710 engines, operators in the air, the company provides (manufactured by Rolls-Royce, powering supplemental lift, loaner parts for AOG the Bombardier Global Express and others) in an attempt to guarantee availability situations, and 24/7 technical support. of loaner engines for its clients. According to JSSI, aircraft “Within a week or two of operators benefit from its indedelivery we deployed the first pendent approach to managing one to mainland China,” said maintenance in the sense that Seno. “If we can’t get you it is neutral as to which mainengines we will reimburse you tenance, repair and overhaul for charter necessitated because vendor to use. They also have your aircraft isn’t flying; we call significant flexibility in that they it supplemental lift. We introhave one point of contact to handuced that at NBAA 2010 and dle support for a fleet that could that’s been great peace of mind include several different aircraft Louis Seno for the directors of maintenance types. Furthermore, if they are JSSI chairman and CEO handling those aircraft.” changing aircraft they can transThe company recently fer account balances from the brought on Neil Book as a coone they are replacing, holding president. His fellow co-president money in the account between and general counsel Susan Marr transactions when necessary. explained that the move was With the exception of small motivated by the desire to free up and urgent line repairs, all mainSeno to fulfill his new position tenance work is conducted by as a director of the U.S. General factory-owned or -authorized serAviation Manufacturers Associavice centers. When an operators’ tion. JSSI was recently admitted flying activity is reduced, JSSI to GAMA as the first pure serwill recalculate contract terms to Susan Marr vice organization in the group. make them more cost effective. JSSI co-president “Neil leads our sales and marJSSI was founded 1989 and and general counsel keting effort, while I’m on the clitoday claims to be the largest ent services and HR side,” said independent provider of hourly Marr. “He’s come on bringing cost maintenance programs phenomenal expertise. He’s got for virtually all aircraft engine the technical background we types, auxiliary power units and require, and he brings fresh, new airframes. The Chicago-based insights. He is currently leadcompany offers comprehening our tech services operations sive, flexible financial programs team. Those guys are out in the designed to manage hard-tofield. They serve our clients and predict costs of operating and are the face of the company.” maintaining jets, turboprops Neil Book Finally, JSSI (Stand 939) and helicopters. JSSI co-president recently forged an agreement The company is currently expanding the customers it serves glob- with AvFuel CEO Craig Sincock (who ally by adding certified technical advis- sits on JSSI’s board of advisers) that ers to its worldwide infrastructure. JSSI’s allows AvFuel’s Avplan contract fuel clioffice in Dubai has expanded its pres- ents full access to JSSI’s 24/7 support netence in the Middle East and it expects to work. “They can get help from one of open an office in Hong Kong by the end our technical advisers even if they aren’t o of July, with plans also to add a second JSSI clients,” explained Seno.
French bizav airport grooves runway eConnect • intelliUSB • intelliOutlet
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In an effort to penetrate the UK and U.S. markets, France’s Lyon-Bron Airport has grooved its 5,971-foot runway so that international operators can disregard the 15-percent increase for landing on wet runways. Having recently joined NBAA, Lyon-Bron (LYN) is the first French business aviation airport to adopt the Federal Aviation Administration standards, since French civil aviation standards do not include grooving. The FAA standards are applied by many countries, notably Canada and the UK. Grooving consists of creating
transverse grooves over the entire length of the runway to prevent water from stagnating on the runway surface, thus preventing the risk of aquaplaning. The JAR-OPS rules specify that aircraft must come to a stop within 60 percent of the available runway length, and in wet weather, the distance required to land and brake is increased by 15 percent. According to the airport operator, the grooving is part of Lyon-Bron’s ambition and strategy to become an obvious choice as the gateway to Europe for North American operators. o