Boeing's new Rapid Response Center began operations last month, providing product support to airline customers outside normal business hours with an expanded team of technical experts and using upgraded databases. The centre, in Seattle, is primarily intended to deal with aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations.
"This is one of the steps we are taking to keep pace with growing customer expectations in an increasingly competitive market," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group vice-president technical services George Field.
"When you consider that we serve nearly 11,000 aircraft - and 70% of our customers are working when we're not at work - it's clear that we have to explore every opportunity for innovation."
The centre is only capable of handling the company's pre-merger 7-series airliners, but the former McDonnell Douglas types are expected to be added soon. During a three-month trial before full operations began, the Rapid Response Centre resolved 300 AOG or pending AOG situations involving 150 airlines, Boeing says.
See Flight International 12-18 May, 1999.
Source: Flight International
