Airbus may have to consider an extended cockpit option for its new 319CJ corporate jet, because its new support pact with United Airlines will be "like having all United's 94,000 staff in the cockpit with you," according to Paul Upp, director of maintenance services for the Chicago-based airline.
And that doesn't include the maintenance and support assets of United's Star Alliance worldwide airline partners like Lufthansa, Air Canada and Thai Airlines International.

Upp described a flexible, extensive support strategy for A319CJ operators in briefings here yesterday. Centerpoint of the plan -- a simple phone line.

This phone, however, will be manned around the clock, 365 days a year by a staff of trained United maintenance and support experts, Upp said. They in turn, will be able to quickly access a wide range of services from line maintenance to troubleshooting to airport ground handling to flight training. In fact, they can provide just about any support the corporate A319CJ operator needs, Upp added.

It's the same "one-call" customer support concept United is using to support Boeing 757s used by the U.S. Air Force's prestigious Special Air Missions squadron to transport the vice president and other government VIPs. Airbus and United began discussing the project at last year's NBAA convention in Las Vegas.

United currently operates 53 Airbus transports in its 585-strong fleet, with 80 more on order. As a result, it has "in-depth knowledge" of the Airbus narrowbody family, related maintenance procedures and their components, Upp said. Indeed, after five years of hard airline use the first of United's A320 fleet are undergoing heavy checks at its Indianapolis narrowbody facility now, he said. The company also performs over 620 engine overhauls a year and 650 airframe heavy checks at Indianapolis and centers in Oakland and San Francisco.

Airbus is helping offset the staffing cost of the 24-hour support line, according to Richard Gaona, VP of corporate airliners for Airbus. Access is provided free of charge to all A319CJ customers. To date, Airbus has orders and commitments for 18 A319CJs, up from 14 a year ago, he said.
United has a service network of 64 main stations worldwide and another 60 at its Star Alliance partners. These overlay the Airbus worldwide fleet support structure of three training centers, five spares bases and 120 field offices. United also is willing to help train airport fixed base operators to perform line service on the A319CJ.

A319CJ customers, however, are not obligated to use United or Airbus service facilities, Upp said. They are welcome to choose any provider they wish.

Some of the many United services A319CJ operators can avail themselves of include: aircraft-on-ground assistance, spares overhaul, materials supply, technical assistance, engineering services and warrantee administration. United also can pre-locate spares inventories at specific bases or locations and send teams to provide on-site training.

By Paul Proctor