Flexjet is the only fractional provider honored eight years
71 percent of technicians earned individual awards under the program
Flexjet organization also certified to AS9100 quality management standard
Bombardier Flexjet, the fractional business jet ownership program of Bombardier Aerospace, has announced that the Flexjet maintenance organization has once again been recognized by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with its highest honor for maintenance training – the FAA Diamond Award. Flexjet is the only fractional jet ownership program that has received the award for eight years.
“We’re delighted to be recognized once again with the FAA Diamond Award and congratulate the many employees who also received individual awards for their accomplishments in maintenance training,” said David Gross, vice president of operations for Bombardier Flexjet. “This singular achievement underscores Bombardier Flexjet’s unsurpassed commitment to maintenance service excellence and safety,” stated Mr. Gross.
The awards program was created by the FAA to encourage aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) and their employers to actively participate in training programs. To qualify for the employer award, at least 50 percent of an organization’s maintenance technicians must pass specialized, continuous training in aircraft systems, regulations and FAA rules over a 12-month period
In 2006, the year for which this last award was earned, 71 percent of Flexjet maintenance technicians completed the requirements of the program to earn individual awards. Further, 24 percent of those Flexjet technicians also won the individual FAA AMT Ruby Award, requiring more than 60 total hours of formal training.
Flexjet Certified to AS9100 Quality Management Standard
In addition to its unique record in achieving the top FAA honors in maintenance training, Mr. Gross pointed out that the Flexjet organization is certified to AS9100 – the quality management standard for the aerospace industry.
To achieve this, Flexjet completed the full, three-year registration audit in May 2006, attaining a perfect score, and passed the subsequent June 2007 audit for current-year designation.
The first international effort to develop a quality management system standard for the aerospace industry, AS9100 is a cooperative project of a number of engineering and standards organizations throughout the world, and demands the organizations also meet additional requirements of regulatory agencies such as the FAA. As with the FAA Diamond Awards, the AS9100 includes training programs, and encompasses an even broader quality evaluation of the Flexjet organization.
About Bombardier Flexjet and the Flexjet 25 Jet Card
Established in 1995 and based in Richardson, Texas, Bombardier Flexjet offers a turnkey program allowing individuals or companies to purchase a share in a Bombardier business jet at a fraction of the full ownership cost. Flexjet owners select the aircraft type that best fits their needs, determine the number of hours per year they expect to fly, and purchase shares starting at 1/16th (equal to 50 hours of flying). Owners pay predictable monthly management and usage fees, while Flexjet manages aircraft maintenance, flight crews, hangars, fuel and insurance on their behalf. Flexjet fields an exclusive family of Bombardier business jets, including the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 604 business jets. The Flexjet 25 jet card program, operated by Jet Solutions LLC, provides travel-by-the-hour on the Flexjet 25 fleet of Bombardier aircraft.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier, Flexjet, Flexjet 25, Learjet andChallenger are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries and Jet Solutions LLC.
For information
George-Ann Rosenberg
202-258-6610
gar@redpointcommunications.com