Last year aircraft manufacturers were struggling to expand their service networks and capabilities to help a growing number of operators worldwide keep their aircraft flying safely and efficiently. Order backlogs were at record highs and manufacturing and product support resources were stretching thin.
But everything has changed and now manufacturers are struggling to balance declining backlogs with shrinking workloads in their service centers while continuing to support their extensive fleets. This year Gulfstream closed a service center in Minneapolis; Embraer temporarily closed its Hartford, Conn. service center; and Cessna closed a service center in Toledo, Ohio. Hawker Beechcraft and Cessna each relocated facilities, consolidating former California bases to business-friendly Mesa, Ariz. Whereas maintenance shops used to be booked months in advance, now operators can easily get multiple competitive bids with much shorter notice.
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