ALLIEDSIGNAL HAS pledged to cut LF502 engine maintenance costs for British Aerospace 146 operators to below $40/h over the next five years.
The programme is a joint initiative with BAe's Asset Management Organisation (AMO), which handles the manufacturer's 100-strong fleet of leased 146s. AMO managing director Robin Southwell believes that this latest move represents the last step in resurrecting the reputation of the 146. The $40 guarantee puts the four-engine 146 on a similar cost base to that of its twinjet rivals, he says.
The 146 is sold with a standard of $52 per flight hour, but this will immediately go down to $48.95, with the rest of the savings being brought in progressively.
The Avro RJ, successor to the 146, is sold with maintenance costs of $42/h on its newer LF507 engines, but these rates will also fall, to keep the new aircraft ahead of its predecessor.
James Robinson, general manager of business operations at AlliedSignal Engines, says that the cost savings on the LF502 will largely come from borrowing hardware improvements from the new LF507.
AMO has announced four new leases, including two BAe 146-100s for new Spanish carrier Melilla Jet. Malmo Aviation in Sweden will take a ninth aircraft, while Mistral Air will take its fourth and National Jet Systems is taking two more aircraft to operate on behalf of Australia Air Express.
Source: Flight International
