This year should see engine maker Rolls-Royce further expand its authorized service center (ASC) network from 58 to 68 locations. Under its CorporateCare fixed-cost maintenance management plan, the company is now supporting more than 1,800 in-service business aircraft engines, including the BR725 (powering the Gulfstream G650), the BR710 (GV, GV-SP, G550, plus Bombardier Global Express and Global 5000 and 6000), Tay (GIV, GIV-SP, G350 and G450), and AE3700 (Embraer Legacy 600 and 650, plus Cessna Citation X).

“CorporateCare is our top priority as it is still creating value for customers and is considered the industry leading program, according to product support surveys such as that published by AIN,” said Stephen Friedrich, sales and marketing vice president for Rolls-Royce’s small and medium engines. “The long-term service agreement concept continues to be very well accepted, and the acceptance rate for all current production engines is over 70 percent.”

According to Rolls-Royce, CorporateCare makes a vital contribution to protecting the value of engine assets and boosts prospects for reselling the aircraft they power. “[As an owner/operator] you are getting a bargain compared to what you would spend on time and materials, because you are benefitting from the existing support network,” said Friedrich. Last year, Rolls-Royce focused on expanding the support network in the U.S., Brazil, South Africa and the UK.

The averted miss-trip rate for CorporateCare customers is now greater than 97 percent–meaning that in the vast majority of cases, the Rolls-Royce support network is able to ensure that a scheduled trip threatened by an engine-related problem goes ahead as planned. The program’s average response time for aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations is less than 24 hours.

Across the Asia Pacific region, Rolls-Royce has seven ASCs providing support under CorporateCare, located in China (ExecuJet in Tianjin), Hong Kong (Metrojet), Malaysia (ExecuJet in Subang) and Singapore (Bombardier, Cessna, Hawker Pacific and Jet Aviation). The manufacturer recently expanded its parts distribution capability in Singapore. Just fewer than 400 Rolls-Royce-powered business aircraft are based in the Asia Pacific region.

Friedrich told AIN that Rolls-Royce (Stand H505) is now looking to expand its support network in mainland China and is currently negotiating with prospective partners. The company recently expanded its office in Beijing, and the business aviation division benefits from the group’s strong position with Chinese airline customers.

Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce engineering team at its Dahlwitz, Germany, facility is working on further performance improvements for its turbofan family. Much of this work is focused on further reducing fuel burn and emissions through improvements in two- and three-shaft technology.