Columbia Aircraft’s service network, Columbia Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Associates (CARMA), has dramatically increased in size this month providing Columbia owners more convenient access to factory-authorized maintenance and repair services.

Presently, the CARMA network has 70 Columbia-certified repair and maintenance facilities located across the United States and expects to continue to add to that number. Many of the CARMA locations are affiliated with the AirBP FBO network, which is known for its aviation expertise and premium customer service. In the coming months, these facilities will be trained to perform all routine maintenance, warranty repairs and aircraft upgrades.

“Columbia owners have come to expect high quality and excellent customer service from their Columbia ownership experience. That includes their maintenance and repair experiences in the field,” said Columbia Aircraft Vice President of Customer Care Dave McRae.

“We’re committed to providing our owners with convenient access to aircraft service from seasoned aviation maintenance professionals. The new CARMA facilities are all top of the line and we’re confident that our customers will receive excellent service from them.” In addition to the expanded CARMA network, Columbia Aircraft’s commitment to owner support also includes an enlarged customer care department at the factory and a number of other new initiatives. 

One of the most significant of these initiatives is the Columbia Mobile Training System, a program for remote factory training on Columbia aircraft maintenance and repair for non-Columbia Service Network FBOs. The program, currently in operation, will produce an ever-growing network of FBOs around the United States trained to work on Columbia aircraft. No matter how large the factory-authorized service network, however, a pilot doesn’t always have the luxury of choosing where they will be when they need service performed. For those eventualities, the Company has also established a 24-hour factory service hotline capable of providing any FBO with the information and authorization necessary to make a needed repair.

“We’re going to great lengths to establish our CARMA network of service facilities that espouse our same commitment to professionalism and customer care,” McRae said. “But we realize that a pilot can’t always get to one of those facilities when they need assistance. We want our customers to know that no matter where they are, we’ll take care of them and their airplanes. No matter how big the problem or how limited an FBO’s resources, we’re committed to helping our customers get the field service they need to keep their aircraft flying.”

Another customer care initiative taking shape at Columbia Aircraft is a new seminar series called the Columbia Maintenance and Operations Seminar Program. The Program sprang from the Columbia Mobile Training System and will consist of a series of seminars on maintenance and operations issues common to Columbia aircraft. The seminars will be held around the country starting this fall and will be open to all maintenance technicians as well as Columbia owners. “The more educated we can make the people who fly and service Columbia aircraft, the better the ownership experience is going to be,” said McRae.

“We’re developing this seminar program as a proactive way to bring useful maintenance and operation information to these audiences. I think both parties will benefit from and enjoy the seminars. They’ll help our pilots get the most from their aircraft."

FMI: www.flycolumbia.com