For the first time ever, a Part 145 MRO for business aviation in mainland China has received approval to maintain all of the in-production models for any OEM.
Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre (SHPBASC) received the approval from China’s airworthiness authority, the CAAC, for maintenance on the Falcon 900LX in
March of this year. This follows their previous approvals for the Falcon 7X and the Falcon 2000 series in 2012.
Carey Matthews, General Manager for SHPBASC noted, “The CAAC approval gives us the foundation to complete our support capability for the Dassault program in China. With our
recent approvals from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands, we are now meeting the needs of the Falcon Jet community that is based here in
China and the overseas operators transiting through the country. The approval is testimony to the very hard work the Chinese maintenance staff has put into this program and their steady
and continual increase in their capabilities.”
“Elsewhere, having the complete in-production line-up on the MRO certificate may not be such a monumental event. Here however, it does signify the steady march of progress for
business aviation in China and the continuing maturation of the country’s infrastructure,” Matthews added.
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Dassault
Falcon 900 LX |
SHPBASC is a joint venture between Shanghai Airport Authority and Hawker Pacific. Shanghai Airport Authority is the owner and operator of Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong
International Airport. Since the Joint Venture in Shanghai opening in April of 2010, the company has established some of the key components for business aviation to thrive in China.
Becoming the first MRO dedicated to business aviation in 2011, it recently earned FAA approval as a Foreign Repair Station. Additionally, it has added approvals from the Cayman
Islands, Bermuda, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over
70 countries across five continents. Dassault Aviation produces the Rafale fighter jet as well as the complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production
plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on multiple continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, 2,000
Falcon jets have been delivered to 67 countries worldwide. The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the
tri-jets - the Falcon 900LX and the 7X - as well as the twin-engine 2000LX and Falcon 2000S.
SHPBASC and its 4,000sqm maintenance facility are located at Shanghai’s Hongqiao International Airport, with the maintenance facility located adjacent to Shanghai’s first FBO. The
FBO opened in April 2010 and has been providing service to China’s business aviation community since.
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