Model 250 Parts Price Reductions Welcomed
Rolls-Royce got to announce a series of price reductions
associated with spare parts for the vastly popular Model 250
turboshaft and turboprop family. These price reductions introduced
on January 1st, 2003, affect a range of high volume Series II and
Series IV parts, and will lower direct operating costs for Model
250 operators.
Rolls-Royce has implemented a 22% price reduction on a range of
high-value Model 250 turbine nozzle assemblies, gearshaft
assemblies and spur gear adapters. The company has also introduced
a fifteen percent price reduction on Series II compressor vane
assemblies.
These reduced-price parts will be available via Aviall, the
exclusive distributor for Rolls-Royce Model 250 parts and
publications. Thanks to industry-leading logistics work at Aviall,
Model 250 operators now enjoy unmatched industry spares
availability that exceeds 99% service levels.
Smarter work upstream, means lower costs downstream.
The Rolls-Royce Model 250 team has been actively
engaged in wide-ranging manufacturing process improvements over
recent years, and is now able to pass on to the customer the
significantly improved material availability and real cost savings.
These efforts have also resulted in improved pass-off performance,
including enhanced power margins for many engine variants.
Other recent customer-focused Model 250 initiatives include the
introduction of electronic publications (e-pubs) and the provision
of cradle- to-grave mission ready management solutions for Model
250 fleet operators. Rolls-Royce is cognizant of the economic
challenges facing the helicopter industry today and pledges to
continue working on a range of further initiatives aimed at
providing enhanced service offerings for Model 250 operators.
The Model 250 has set the standard for turboshafts in the
420-715 shp power class, and is one of the industry's most trusted
engines, celebrating 160 million hours of operation in 2003.
Combining ease of operation with a high power-to-weight ratio, the
Model 250 family includes a range of turboshaft variants, plus a
compact turboprop derivative. Over 28,500 Model 250 engines have to
date been built for over 125 different applications, and over
16,000 engines are now in service.
The 420-450 shp Series II turboshaft powers a range of popular
aircraft, including the Bell 206, MD Helicopters MD 500/520,
Enstrom 480 and Schweizer 333 (above). Recent applications for the
Model 250 Series II turboprop include the Extra EA-500, Fuji T-7,
Grob G140TP. The Series IV engine, which offers thermodynamic
take-off ratings up to 813 shp, powers the world's fastest- selling
turbine single, the Bell 407, together with the Bell 430 and MD
Helicopters MD 600N. A new Series IV variant, the Model
250-C30R/3M, was certified in 2002 for the U.S. Special Forces
AH/MH-6 Mission Enhanced Little Bird.
Most of the engines in service, Rolls-Royce says, will have
operational lives of 25 years or more, generating an assured
aftermarket demand for the provision of spare parts and services.
The company's strategy is to maximize aftermarket revenues through
the development of a comprehensive services capability.