First Service Vehicle In Place In San Antonio

Cessna tells ANN the Wichita, KS-based planemaker recently began serving Citation customers with a new Mobile Service Unit, designed to save owners and operators time and money on their aircraft maintenance.

Operated by the Cessna Citation Service Centers, the Mobile Service Unit performs nearly all small and medium scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, including engine replacements. The first Mobile Service Unit truck is in service, based at the San Antonio Cessna Citation Service Center.

"Based on enthusiastic customer response to the first Mobile Service Unit, Cessna has three more in production and a number of additional units planned for the future," said Stan Younger, Cessna's vice president of Service Facilities. "We will base the next three units on the east and west coasts, where many Citations are located."

The first Citation service truck has operated in Texas and Louisiana since June 2007, and already executed more than 100 service orders from routine avionics to Citation X engine exchanges. All of the Mobile Service Units will be staffed by qualified airframe and powerplant mechanics (A&P) who specialize in Citation aircraft.

The concept is designed to provide swift, reliable service at times when flying the Citation to one of the local Service Centers may be problematic. The trucks have laptop computers for access to Cessna's illustrated parts manuals, maintenance manuals and the Citation Expert Troubleshooting System, and printout capability for FAA documentation.

The Cessna Mobile Service Unit is equipped with a 28-foot boom capable of hoisting Citation X Rolls-Royce AE3007s engines. Each unit has a ground power unit, an air compressor, jacks for all Citation models, a rear-mounted lift and a hydraulic mule. Limitations of the Mobile Service Units include full sheet metal repair and full paint and interior capability.

FMI: www.cessna.com