Jet Aviation invests to speed up BBJ/ACJ downtime on checks

Intended to facilitate the 12-year BBJ inspection, Jet Aviation Basel has added a tail and wing-docking platform to its wide-body hangar, enabling complete access to all areas of the tail on all four levels, as well as full structural inspection of the wings. The new custom-built dock station is certified for the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 series per EU standards and is fitted with air and electricity.
“The tail and wing dock enables easier access to the aircraft, minimizing downtime while aiding us in meeting the highest safety and quality standards,” says Johannes Turzer, vice president and accountable manager of maintenance services at Jet Aviation Basel. “We recently completed a 12-year BBJ inspection, together with repairs and a modification, performing over 8,400 man-hours in just 7 weeks of aircraft downtime.”
The wing dock is equipped with two fuel-fume evacuation hoses on each side, which can be stored in a floor- trap panel when not in use. It also has special explosion-proof floor lights and two steps on the outer portion of the wing dock to help maintenance personnel access the top of the wings. The 4-level tail dock is equipped with hoist equipment, enabling removal of the rudder as well as the stabilizer assemblies or just the elevators. An additional platform permits maintenance on the auxiliary power unit (APU).
Christof Spaeth, senior vice president of maintenance and FBO services in EMEA & Asia, adds, “Customers appreciate our ‘tip-to-tail’ 12-year BBJ inspection service, which offers exceptional value to our entire global network of MRO & FBO customers. Our investment in a wing and tail dock demonstrates our commitment to providing the most benefit to our customers.”
Jet Aviation Basel is the designated service center in EMEA for ensuring Special Federal Regulation 88 (“SFAR 88”) compliance for the Boeing 737 fleet and has strictly dedicated hangar space for BBJ maintenance checks. The facility’s 12-year BBJ inspection service provides the most competitive personalized 12-year service inspection available to BBJ owners and operators, including all mandatory inspections per the Boeing Maintenance Planning Data (MPD) guide, as well as the highly recommended Engine Boroscope inspection, service bulletins, service letters and airworthiness directives.