Chicago-based Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI), which since the early 1990s has been providing hourly cost maintenance programs to the turbine helicopter market in Brazil, comes to LABACE offering a new parts-only maintenance program for the full line of Airbus A350 helicopters. JSSI is also using the event to announce the introduction of “tip-to-tail” coverage for AgustaWestland AW139s.

Neil Book, president and CEO of JSSI, said the A350 move was based on customer feedback. “We listened to AS350 owners and operators to uncover how JSSI could further support this market, and the result was the development of our new parts-only program,” said Book. “As the largest independent provider of hourly cost maintenance programs, JSSI is also the largest purchaser of business aircraft maintenance services. Our parts-only program will provide a competitive advantage for AS350 operators while minimizing their downtime.”

The new program has three coverage options: coverage for life-limited components; for on-condition components; and for avionics. Customers can choose one, two or all three of these options for a single hourly rate, said JSSI. The company added that its program is unique in being “perpetual in nature” and ideal for lenders and lessors “looking to address betterment deferment provisions.”

Furthermore, JSSI (Booth 3002) can also provide–over and above its perpetual offering–a 5-to-10-year program or as requested/specified by an owner or operator; and work with clients to add mission-specific equipment “to further tailor the program specifically to their helictoper.”

Ray Weiser, a JSSI helicopter program specialist, said with more than 3,000 AS350s in operation, “the need to find quality parts at a fair price will continue to increase…we look forward to working with AS350 helicopter operators around the world.”

Tip-to-Tail Grows

“By adding the AW139 airframe coverage to our traditional engine program for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67C engines, we effectively create the most comprehensive hourly cost program in the industry,” said Weiser.

“In today’s environment, it is tough for helicopter operators to predict their maintenance budget, as the potential for unexpected expense is extremely difficult to estimate on your own…JSSI programs stabilize the maintenance budget, while the JSSI team of technical advisors act as advocate and advisor to the entire flight operation,” Weiser added.

Tip-to-tail is an all-inclusive maintenance program first introduced in 1997 when JSSI added airframe and APU coverage to its legacy engine programs. JSSI claims it is “the only single-source solution for the entire aircraft, covering virtually every assembly and system.”

JSSI offers tip-to-tail, engine, airframe and APU coverage for approximately 350 different aircraft models, including “virtually all business jets, turboprops and helicopters”–the AgustaWestland AW109 and AW119 series helicopters being among these. New AW139 helicopter buyers also have the option of enrolling in a standalone JSSI engine program.

“Our goal at JSSI is to deliver innovative programs for production aircraft, like the AW139, that enhance the OEM warranty, reduce our clients’ overall cost of maintenance, increase residual value of their aircraft, and ultimately provide a customer service experience that is second to none,” said Book.

Meanwhile JSSI has announced that it has become a member of the Association of Brazilian Helicopter Pilots (ABRAPHE), which is based here in São Paulo.

Tony Gilbert, JSSI v-p for business development in South America, said: “We are excited to be part of this professional group and plan to play an active role with ABRAPHE to support their educational and flight safety endeavors.” He added, “Brazil has a growing helicopter market, and São Paulo is even recognized as the world capital of helicopters. We see great opportunity here to help operators stabilize their maintenance budgets, lower their maintenance costs and increase their helicopters’ residual value with our hourly cost maintenance programs.”

Tony Gilbert and Aroldo Rovero, JSSI’s director of business development, recently presented a seminar, in affiliation with ABRAPHE, at the Heli Park Training Center just outside São Paulo. He gave detailed information on hourly cost maintenance programs, how the programs work and how they can increase the aircraft’s value while lowering overall maintenance costs.