BOMBARDIER IS to re-organise the distribution of spare parts for its Canadair Challenger business jet, citing operator concern about parts availability. The new spares-distribution network, which will be managed independently by third parties, is to be operational in September.
A request for proposals from potential distributors in Asia, Europe and North America will be issued in early June. Bombardier is looking for logistics companies prepared to stock and distribute spares to Challenger operators in their regions. "This newly organised spare-parts depot programme...[will] allow us to better manage our overall inventories to ensure parts are at the right place at all times," says Canadair Business Aircraft division vice-president, product support, David Orcutt.
Bombardier says that operators' concerns, revealed in a 1995 survey, were addressed initially by establishing a pilot "parts bank" in Memphis, Tennessee, with Federal Express Logistics Services. A similar FedEx-operated spares depot was then opened in Singapore.
Source: Flight International
