On Monday, Bombardier Aerospace inaugurated its first dedicated Customer Response Team (CRT) aircraft, a Learjet 45 that will be used to provide a rapid response for aircraft on ground (AOG)/unscheduled maintenance events in the continental U.S.

N45YF will operate 24/7 and will be based at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Palwaukee, Ill., close to Bombardier’s parts hub and Chicago-based CRT truck. The Chicago parts hub carries “the bulk” of Bombardier’s $1.4 billion in spare parts worldwide, a spokesman told AIN. Bombardier’s Customer Response Center will handle the dispatching duties for the aircraft and coordinate activities with the broader CRT group.

“The dispatch process is designed with speed of response in mind,” the spokesman said. “First they will consider overnight shipment of parts. If that’s not quick enough, then they would consider using a courier service. And if that’s not fast enough, then they’ll dispatch the Learjet.” Customers will not pay anything extra for parts and/or technicians delivered by the Learjet, Bombardier said. “The parts/technicians are delivered by our CRT aircraft at no charge,” the spokesman told AIN. “Customers will be responsible only for the cost of the part and the labor hours of technicians, if applicable.”

Gulfstream introduced the first of two dedicated customer-support aircraft (G150s) in 2002.