Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, introduced another Mobile Service Unit based at Atlantic Aviation, a fixed base operator at Birmingham International Airport in Alabama. Cessna Mobile Service Units (MSU) provide on-site technical expertise and immediate support for over 6,000 Cessna Citation jets in operation worldwide. The specially outfitted trucks carry many of the tools and equipment found in Cessna Citation Service Centers and can perform a variety of service related procedures up to and including engine exchanges. There are now 18 Mobile Service Units in the United States, with 22 in service overall covering the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
“With thousands of Citations in service, our mobile maintenance capabilities are key to supporting the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance needs of our customers,” said Joe Hepburn, Cessna senior vice president, Customer Service. “Services provided by the MSUs are frequently more convenient for customers — the MSU is another example of how we respond to our customer’s unique needs.
”In 2011, MSUs handled more than 2,300 service events at off-site locations. MSUs are stationed across the United States as well as in Canada and Europe. MSUs perform scheduled maintenance events including phase inspections and Maintenance Steering Group (MSG) tasked based inspections. MSG is a collaborative effort between Cessna, its customers and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a safe and economical maintenance program.
Citation customer Robert Fiscella speaks positively about the convenience and caliber of service provided by the MSU. “My experience of my Citation being serviced by the MSU was very worthwhile. The crew arrived earlier than anticipated. After a thorough diagnosis, parts were ordered and arrived in a timely manner. The work was performed expeditiously. Everything worked great and there were no problems.
”Cessna MSUs are a key component of the Citation Service Center’s ServiceDirect initiative, which also includes AOG Go Teams, the Air Response Team, HomeService and Temporary Personnel Support. Since its introduction in 2008, Cessna’s fleet of agile ground-based MSU vehicles is rewriting the rules on how to provide expeditious service and maintenance for Cessna business jets around the world.