The Rolls-Royce On-Wing Services team in Indianapolis has discovered a way to increase slots and reduce waiting times for its customers. By drawing on the larger services network in the region, the team has gained access to an existing hangar at Indianapolis Regional airport to meet significant industry need.

For business aviation customers, a business jet is an essential tool which offers flexibility, freedom and saves a lot of time. Rolls-Royce has set up a powerful and comprehensive global business aviation services network able to provide everything from on-wing maintenance up to full engine changes. However, free slots, especially for a short notice engine change, have historically been hard to find in the market, leading to long waiting times for customers.

Timothy Wyckoff, service operations executive, business aviation, Rolls-Royce, explains: “Having access to this local hangar is already bearing fruit and just recently this new option enabled us to deliver urgently required, short-term customer support, which would normally have taken months before a service slot would have been available. The task we had to complete was a double engine change on a Bombardier Global business jet, and what usually would have taken more than 10 days was completed in just four and a half days. These efficiency improvement results from having full control of the operations, having all the required equipment prepared and ready.

“Prior to that, a Gulfstream G650 dropped in for a day to exchange a lease inlet. The customer landed at 08:00 in the morning and left the hangar at 17:00 in the afternoon. It goes without saying that they were very extremely satisfied, as without access to the new facility this swap would have been a huge hassle.

“A couple of days later, a Gulfstream G550 arrived for another unscheduled removal, which also required a single engine change. The director of maintenance stated that it was going to be weeks at any other facility before his engine could have been removed.”

This all is very positive for the customer satisfaction, but the new approach also significantly improves the lease engine return process, as the post lease inspection and maintenance are completed in parallel with the engine change process. This results in savings in logistics, parts replacement and labour. In addition, engines are ready for the next installation by the time the aircraft leaves the hangar, making sure those valuable assets are available for customers in need almost immediately.

Andy Robinson, SVP customers and services, business aviation, Rolls-Royce, says: “This is a fantastic initiative that was executed brilliantly and is being received very positively by our customers. Well done to all involved and thank you; this has the potential to be a real differentiator.”

Priority access to this facility at no cost is yet another benefit of being enrolled in the Rolls-Royce CorporateCare or CorporateCare Enhanced programme. Customers not enrolled in a RR programme will be given access based on availability with relevant fees applying.