New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
Bombardier opens third US commercial aircraft service centre
Bombardier Aerospace has added a third commercial aircraft service centre, in Macon, Georgia, to its growing customer support network worldwide and has announced a launch customer for the business.
The Macon facility is operated by Bombardier Customer Services and complements the two Bombardier-owned commercial aircraft service centres in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Tucson, Arizona.
The facility will perform heavy maintenance, including C Check events, on Bombardier CRJ100/200/700/900 aircraft and is expected to create an additional 180 jobs within Bombardier over the next year. The establishment of the service centre represents a $2 million investment in Georgia.
With the opening of the new facility, Bombardier has signed a 10-year exclusive agreement with Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), becoming the exclusive provider of heavy maintenance services for ASA's fleet of 150 CRJ aircraft (including 108 CRJ200s, 38 CRJ700s and 10 CRJ900s).
"Bombardier Customer Services has proven to be a reliable heavy maintenance provider for ASA's Bombardier fleet and we are pleased to be extending our well-established partnership with [them] in Macon," remarked Ken Ashworth, vice-president, maintenance, Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
"The investment in the Macon service centre is evidence of Bombardier's ongoing commitment to improve the maintenance support we offer our customers," said James Hoblyn, president, Customer Services and Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft, "and the 10-year contract with ASA is a testament to the quality we provide throughout our service centres."
The 91,808 sq ft (8,529 sq m) Macon facility, previously operated by ASA, will be managed by Bombardier Customer Services and will also provide existing and new Bombardier CRJ operators with additional repair, overhaul and maintenance capacity. The well-equipped, well-stocked facility has a line capability for up to six aircraft at a time.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia]()
-
![UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”]()
UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”
Rachel Reeves announced port upgrades, protected budgets for innovation and investment in novel technologies.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees]()
Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees
The Australian Budget was marked by tax cuts and a looming general election which led to little hope that there would be a substantial defence boost even with a big bill for nuclear submarines due.
-
![Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market]()
Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market
The communications company Gilat launched its new Gilat Defense division at the Satellite 2025 expo, with future solutions aimed at US military customers.
-
![Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft]()
Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft
US services have already conducted multiple tests with military maritime systems fitted with the system.
-
![OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”]()
OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”
Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) “has to establish itself…as a centre of excellence for cooperative Defence Equipment Programmes” in the face of growing threats and the need for rearmament, according to the organisation’s chairman.
