Operational support is the provision of services that enable maximum aircraft utilisation through proactive in-service engine management. These services:

• Assist the airline to maximise asset utilisation from predictive maintenance
• Improve troubleshooting due to improved use of fleet wide experience and aligned incentives to keep the aircraft in service earning revenue
• Minimise disruption through advanced technical support to the airlines operation

Technical support
Alongside day-to-day contact and relationship management, technical support services include:

• 24/7 assistance to support in-service events, co-ordinate fleet management providing a seamless link between on-wing and shop management
• Technical publications - provisions of all required technical information
• Technical, operational and maintenance training courses to enhance customer knowledge and capability
• Instant access to data on-line though aeromanager.com, the Rolls-Royce e-business portal for its commercial aerospace customers

Asset management
Tailored to customer's individual needs, asset management optimises inventory requirements. Rolls-Royce can provide and manage all required engine support equipment, including spare engines, engine accessories, line maintenance parts and tooling, removing the supply chain management burden from the airline.

More specifically, asset management delivers the following:

• Accessory transportation to vendor repair station from line station and/or overhaul base
• Return transportation of repaired or new unit
• Transportation of engine between airline main base and engine overhaul facility for scheduled and unscheduled shop visits
• Provision of spare engines to cover airlines requirement:
  • in case of Aircraft On Ground due to engine reliability and
  • for standard spare engine provision
• Provision of parts and recommendation of stock levels

Line support
This service provides specialist, non-routine engine line maintenance activities using latest diagnostic technology including:

• 24/7 coverage by on-wing care airport service including Service Bulletin/Airworthiness Directive incorporation resulting in reduced engine TRT
• Qualified and equipped maintenance engineers available at key airports for operators to use in the field (i.e. fly away teams to support in the event of an AOG situation)
• Access to line maintenance facilities (hospital shops) at key airports

Coordinated through the operations room, the unexpected is centrally managed providing a fast response with optimised solutions.

At present, this fully operational service is available at Hong Kong and Heathrow. At Hong Kong, Rolls-Royce has joined forces with its existing Joint Venture partner HAECO to support this initiative and at Heathrow this service is to be provided by Hatton Cross an established Rolls-Royce Line Maintenance support facility.  

Rolls-Royce is looking to enhance its On-Wing Care global locations and will soon have Frankfurt, Singapore, Dallas and Newark fully operational.