Bell and Cessna Prague service centre receives EASA certification
Textron companies Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft have announced that their joint service facility, operated by Aviation Service in Prague, Czech Republic has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) certification.
“Growing our customer support and services around the globe is a strategic priority for Bell Helicopter and this joint facility is an important step in growing our presence in Europe,” said R Danny Maldonado, senior vice president and chief services officer for Bell Helicopter.
“This joint Cessna and Bell facility is bringing first-class support and maintenance to our customers in this region,” said Dave Brant, Cessna’s senior vice president, customer service. “With the growing fleet of Citations in eastern and central Europe, business already has been brisk.”
This certification allows for maintenance, inspection, repair and component overhaul options applicable to the Bell 206, 407, 412, 427, and 429. It gives Cessna the capability to perform base and line maintenance — including systems, avionics and power plant support — for all Citations except for the Citation CJ3, CJ4 and the Citation X, but training is planned to incorporate those models in 2012.
“This facility expands our capabilities to perform maintenance and overhauls on the Bell Helicopter European fleets, and to incorporate customizing and completion services on new Bell aircraft to be delivered into this growing region,” said Gordon Harveson, general manager, Bell Helicopter Europe.
“Cessna has a large fleet of aircraft operating in Europe. This new facility in Prague is a significant step toward providing our operators a more comprehensive customer service and support experience in their region,” said Scott Nelson, Cessna’s Prague service centre maintenance manager.
In addition to this new customer service and support capability in Prague, it is also the European headquarters for regional commercial sales for Bell Helicopter. Cessna’s second Mobile Service Unit, in central Europe will be based in Prague. The MSU will complement the maintenance work done there for Citations by traveling to customers in surrounding areas.
