Supplemental Type Certificate After-Sales Considerations for Airlines
Feb 15, 2022
Airline operators and owners contemplating an upgrade to their aircraft have a lot to consider—particularly when deciding to use a Supplemental Type Certificate project. It’s no secret that aircraft modifications require many phases to accomplish and need significant planning and coordination— both by the modifier and the airline operator. As we have learned, after-sales support can present significant challenges to an airline’s ongoing operations. Fortunately, our experts have lengthy experience with the obstacles that can accompany this challenge.
After-Sales: A Challenge for Airlines Industry
Airlines around the world know that after-sales support is a critical factor in effectively maintaining both airworthiness and ongoing fleet operations. It can be a challenge for airlines industry and maintainers to get the quality and type of support they require. Our goal is to address airline owner and operator experiences, and to illustrate how IAMA modifier members run programs committed to standards-based, well documented support service principles. Our study of the challenges provides the backdrop for how airlines and modifiers can work together to overcome these hurdles.
IAMA’s Guidance for an Intact After-Sales
With the fundamentals of the IAMA Rulebook at its core, we emphasize on essential considerations for embarking on and successfully completing a Supplemental Type Certificate project—including the all-important after-sales support phase. Starting with communication processes and documentation, unsurprisingly forethought and rigorous planning are key factors in a strong after-sales support program. Touching on the more routine phases of an aircraft modification project, we also tackle more demanding topics such as Foreign STC Validation. Additional takeaways, including evaluation processes for understanding modifier capabilities and considerations for requests for proposals, may at first seem obvious. However, the guidance is presented in a relatively short, relevant document and helps illustrate necessary activities that genuinely contribute to the effectiveness of a support program.
It’s important to understand that IAMA members are required to commit to and follow the Rulebook to retain their quality standing. IAMA and its members take a holistic approach to after-sales support, which is why we are committed to principles and best practices designed to ensure the needs of airlines in this critical area are met. A well run after-sales support program helps strengthen the relationship between the parties by fostering ongoing communication. As a result, in our experience, support outcomes are greatly improved, and by extension, ongoing operations.
Where airline operators and owners may have experienced an absence of support, our methods and processes provide a strong framework for how to create and execute programs that truly address airline after-sales needs. With an intrinsic acknowledgment of the strength and flexibility of Supplemental Type Certificates for modernizing airline fleets, our experts always aim to deliver compelling insights.