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."

FMI: www.yinglingaviation.com