By Vladimir Karnozov by Farnborough air show
Bombardier is to open a line maintenance facility in Moscow following recent sales of Global, Challenger and Learjet series business jets.
The company is "finalising agreement" with a Russian partner that will initially undertake A checks. The deal is expected to close "within few months", says James Hoblyn, Bombardier vice-president business aircraft.
Bombardier now has 11 business aircraft service facilities in Europe, including TAG Farnborough Engineering and Gold Air International in the UK, which were added to the list during the Farnborough air show. With the addition of Moscow, the number will grow to 12.
Hoblyn says Bombardier has delivered more than 18 new Challengers and Globals to Russian customers in the past few years. "We are also starting to see some Learjets coming into Russia," he adds. The Russian Business Aviation Association estimates the number of new and used Bombardier business jets in Russia has exceeded 50 this year. Bombardier has sold 12 new Globals to Russian customers since 2002.
"It's fairly obvious to us that given the number of customers we have in the region it is important that we set up a necessary support infrastructure that would include a line maintenance facility in Moscow," Hoblyn says.
Source: Flight International
