If you or your corporation own a private jet, you’re well aware of the intricacy and challenges of ensuring that regular flight maintenance is completed properly and on schedule. In the business of flight there is no room for guess work or error so you need to surround yourself with a team that knows how to keep all those working parts working.
We’ve learned from years in the industry that most corporations or individuals really don’t have the knowledge or time to manage their own in-house flight maintenance team which makes outsourcing a wise choice. There are no short cuts to proper aircraft maintenance, but there are efficiencies to be had if you make the right choices.
Here are 5 tips to help you make decisions about hiring an outsource maintenance provider:
- Even if it’s not going to be a full time gig, choose a provider who offers 24/7 accessibility and availability. Agree to a standard maintenance schedule and scope of assignment, but ensure the service can be altered whenever required. Things happen and you need a provider who can step outside of a basic agreement and provide solutions to any unexpected issue that may arise.
- Understand that the unexpected will happen and budget for it. The thing with airplanes is that stuff happens and can keep you on the ground until corrected. Take as much of the surprise factor out of the equation by planning contingency budgets to take care of it.
- Ensure your staff treat your outsource maintenance provider as a core part of the inside team. Regular communication and information exchange keeps everyone up to speed as though they are travelling with the aircraft every day. Make this the responsibility of two key managers, one on the inside and one on the supplier side. Link their compensation to performance of this practice.
- Outsource to a full service flight maintenance provider, otherwise you’ll find you have to “add on” services with other suppliers which works against the kind of integrated partnership you need. When you are evaluating a full service provider, ask them for their complete list of services and expertise and ensure it covers all your needs. Ask for documents proving they have the people with the right experience on staff today. If they tell you they can “get” that person advise them that you’ll be pleased to continue the conversation, but only when they have done so.
- Make safety and trust the two biggest elements of your partnership. When maintenance issues arise, there shouldn’t be a debate about whether it needs to be done – just how and when. Only trust between partners can make those decisions move quickly and smoothly.