The ever-growing importance of the Middle East as an aviation centre was acknowledged by Air France Industries (AFI) at the show when company president Alain Bassil announced that a new component logistics centre is to be opened in Abu Dhabi early next year.
The centre, aimed at enhancing customer service levels for existing and future operators of Boeing 777 and Airbus fleets, will hold stock valued at more than $10 million.
It will offer parts reception/distribution; despatch from a central point; warehousing/parts storage; avionics test bench facilities; local repair management; and the availability of Air France Industries’ repair network for back-up as required.
Basis
AFI is also celebrating the 90th Boeing 777 – one of 23 aircraft of Saudi Arabian Airlines – to join its Component Services Programme (CSP) on a ‘flight hour’ basis.
The Boeing 777 CSP is a joint venture between Boeing and AFI. Set up in 2003, it has a portfolio of 70 customers, and the companies aim to increase the number of airframes included to around 130 by 2007-8.
Operators benefit from fast access to the most mission-critical components while significantly reducing inventory holding, repair and administrative costs.
Components are changed immediately during line maintenance, with Boeing or AFI subsequently repairing them before returning them to the spares pool. A 10-year contract means customer airlines pay a fixed ‘per flight hour’ fee covering routine replacements for around 300 critical parts.
Source: Flight Daily News
