Wichita Shop Answers Aging Aircraft Concerns
Citing recent reports and
rumors of some aircraft maintenance and repair
facilities turning away aircraft more than 18 years old on
insurance and liability concerns, Yingling Aviation, a longtime
Cessna affiliate at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport, has
responded.
Lynn Nichols, president of Yingling tells ANN, "We welcome
customers who are flying older models because we believe we can
provide them with what is arguably the best service available. We
have established maintenance procedures, tooling and expertise
working on Cessna single and twin engine aircraft, and we are
located across from the factory, so if we run into an anomaly,
Cessna's product support is minutes away."
Nichols was responding to rumors in the aviation media
suggesting some maintenance facilities are turning away airplanes
whose age placed them beyond the statute of repose limits
established in the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) of
1994. Nichols says in the reports he's read, facilities have
based their refusal to repair or maintain older aircraft on
concerns the focus of potential litigation resulting from an
accident might shift to the maintenance shop.
Nichols says, "I would not argue that plaintiff attorneys have
and will migrate their lawsuits towards aircraft maintenance and
avionics facilities when they have a legacy aircraft incident that
falls outside the 18 year window GARA represents. By virtue of
GARA, navigating a lawsuit towards OEMs has become more difficult
after the first 18 years of an aircraft's service life. That is a
good reason why all maintenance facilities should have properly
trained personnel, impeccable inspection procedures, and a quality
assurance program that ensures any discrepancies have been
accurately addressed. We've built an extremely strong reputation on
our ability to support older aircraft. In fact, more than 90
percent of our business is currently providing comprehensive
support to Cessna legacy aircraft, including 500-650 series
Citations, Conquests Is and IIs, and Cessna single and piston
twins."
Yingling also claims a partnership with Cessna in providing
'Proof Kits' to factory for legacy and current production
models.
"We work with the manufacturer directly to support developing
applicable Service Bulletins and repair schemes for Cessna aircraft
young and old, whenever the need arises. An obvious example would
be the Spar Strap kit Cessna developed and continue to offer for
operators of Cessna 400 series twins and Conquest turboprops. Our
maintenance team assisted Cessna's engineers on what was needed to
install, such as time study, methodology and procedures. That's a
program that is directed specifically to older airplanes which may
have developed fatigue cracks over a period of extended service.
It's the kind of service we're proud to provide," said Nichols.
Yingling says it's involved in new and used aircraft sales and
has developed a Joint Ownership Program featuring refurbished
Cessna Conquest turboprops. The firm has plans to add a
previously-owned Citation to the mix in the near future.
Nichols: "Our expertise in working with older aircraft has
provided us with a variety of business opportunities we wouldn't
have if we focused purely on current or recent production models.
We will continue to welcome and provide exceptional maintenance and
repair services for aging aircraft. It just makes good business
sense."