US engine manufacturer GE Aviation has named Bombardier's Tianjin Service Centre in China as an authorised service centre (ASC) for its Passport and CF34-3 engines. The company now has combined Passport and CF34-3 ASC agreements in place at eight Bombardier service centre facilities around the world: Tianjin; Biggin Hill, UK; Singapore; and Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas, Wichita and Tucson in the US. It also has service agreements in place with Bombardier's European line station network and the fleet of US-based mobile repair trucks.

“GE's enduring and collaborative relationship with Bombardier continues as we expand our service network around the world,” says GE Aviation's business and general aviation and integrated services organisation vice president and general manager Brad Mottier. “Together, we strive to provide service and support that exceed our customers' expectations for quality and timeliness. These locations offer additional convenience for our customers, so we can meet their needs globally, wherever they need us.”

GE has a maintenance support agreement with Lufthansa Technik Aero Alzey (LTAA) for dispatching mobile repair teams to locations outside the United States. These teams will have 10 dedicated technicians to support GE Passport operations. LTAA has been a member of GE's authorised service centre network for CF34-series engines since October 2014.

The GE Strother mobile repair team is providing support in the Americas. Both the Strother and LTAA mobile repair teams supported the Global 7500 aircraft flight test programme for Passport to gain operational experience with the engine and ensure concierge-style service in parallel with entry into service. Both GE and LTAA have received Part 145 certification for the Passport engine.

“We've got a great customer support organisation around the world from our partnered service centres and mobile repair teams,” says GE Aviation general manager for business and general aviation support Jim Stoker. “We've been beefing up our personnel, focusing on critical areas that we believe are going to have a higher concentration of Global 7500 business jets. That's Asia, the Middle East, Australia, as well as the big regions like Europe and the US.”

GE Aviation has also tested its system to make sure not only are the people in place to deliver world-class service, but that the parts and processes are ready as well.

“Over the last two years, our team has completed a significant number of simulations of potential service event scenarios,” adds Stoker. “We have stress-tested the entire process. We're ready.”

GE's OnPoint is a full coverage, concierge, flight hour, service programme with no hidden costs that uses its global network of service centres and mobile repair teams for 100 per cent peace of mind OEM support. OnPoint for Passport covers the complete propulsion system and increases residual value and aircraft availability.