The maintenance capacity for Bombardier's Q400 and Q400 NextGen turboprops has been expanded with three new lines at its aircraft service center in Tucson, Ariz. The new lines of maintenance have been installed in an existing hangar space at the Tucson service center, which complements Bombardier's existing maintenance capabilities for Q-Series aircraft at Bridgeport, West Virginia and Macon, Georgia facilities.
During the past year, Bombardier has been awarded long-term heavy maintenance contracts by North American carriers seeking to maximize their operational efficiency. The line and heavy maintenance offering by Bombardier is designed to maximize quality and return-to-service speed within a competitive, predictable cost structure.
The facilities are supported by Bombardier's 24/7 technical help desks, in-service engineering teams and support staff worldwide.
"Our capacity in Tucson has continued to expand on both the business and commercial aircraft fronts as we continue to grow deeper roots in the community,” says Stan Younger, vice president, Bombardier Aerospace Aircraft Service Centers.
Bombardier operates eight service centers in the US in areas that include Bridgeport, W.V.; Macon, Ga.; and Tucson, Ariz., as well as one center in Amsterdam.
These facilities primarily provide 24/7 maintenance services for Bombardier commercial aircraft. Bombardier is also set to open a tenth facility in Singapore in the second half of this year.
The Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft, manufactured at Bombardier's Ontario, Canada, facility, is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft and the advanced successor to Bombardier's Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft line. The 70 to 80-seat Q400 NextGen aircraft, which is optimized for short-haul operations, is a fuel-efficient turboprop that provides an passengers with comfort, with a reduced environmental footprint and running costs for operators.