Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI) is offering an unscheduled maintenance program on business aircraft purchased through international broker Jetcraft that will be cost-free to buyers for the first six months or 175 hours under a new partnership between the two companies. Engines, airframes, avionics, and APUs that are not under warranty will be covered under the program for “manufacturer indifferent” aircraft purchased through Jetcraft that are generally five to 15 years old, officials from both companies told AIN. “To have this arrow in our quiver, I think is an important tool for us,” said Jetcraft president Chad Anderson.

The program enables Jetcraft and clients who are selling their airplanes through the broker a way to differentiate themselves in the preowned market, he added. “When an airplane comes out of pre-buy and delivers to a new client and God forbid something breaks on a flight 10 hours down the road, there’s nothing more frustrating when that happens,” Anderson said. “To be able to have a solution in the event that occurs via the JSSI team, that’s our objective in improving the product.”

For JSSI, it’s an opportunity to extend and expand buyers’ participation in its maintenance programs. “It’s a great introduction to prove the customer service that JSSI can provide their customers,” said JSSI senior v-p of business development and strategy Francisco Zozaya. JSSI already offers maintenance programs for a business aircraft and its systems that are no longer covered by a warranty, including for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Zozaya explained that JSSI has previously had similar programs but that they were exclusive to certain makes and models in “certain other territories. This is the first time that a broker-dealer actually has the ability to offer [an unscheduled maintenance program from JSSI] across different makes and models on a global basis.” He added that once the six months is up, Jetcraft customers will be eligible for JSSI’s pay-by-the-hour maintenance program at a preferred, initial enrollment fee that’s roughly about half of its normal cost.

Anderson explained that Jetcraft will introduce the program to its clients by enrolling two aircraft in its sales inventory—a Bombardier Challenger 604 and 605. “We are starting the rollout of the program using our own aircraft so that we can also educate our clients and make the honest statement to our clients that we believe in the program so much we’re doing it on our own aircraft,” he said.