SAUDI Oger, the construction and facilities management firm, has gained the distinction of becoming Honeywell Aerospace’s first Boeing Business Jet avionics maintenance plan customer in the Middle East.

The Honeywell Avionics Protection Plan, known as HAPP, has been designed to increase fleet availability for operators, while driving more predictable and manageable maintenance costs, said a statement.

Avionics span the electrical systems in the cockpit and the aircraft’s satellite connectivity equipment, it said.

Mahmoud Khatib, director of maintenance, Saudi Oger, said: “Avoiding unplanned grounding and ensuring our fleet is available as and when needed is a top priority for us, as a grounded aircraft is simply 100 per cent cost with no return.

“This requirement, combined with the benefit of more predictable operations and maintenance, makes HAPP a cost-effective, easy-to-justify investment that will deliver an immediate positive impact on our bottom line.”

Honeywell’s headquarters in Morristown, NJ, USA

Saudi Oger will benefit from full unplanned maintenance coverage of the avionics and satcom systems on its Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and its two Gulfstream G450 aircraft, which it has also enrolled in the programme, said the statement.

In addition, Saudi Oger has also enrolled the two G450s in Honeywell’s Mechanical Protection Plan (MPP). MPP provides the same level of assurance as HAPP across the aircraft’s cabin control systems, such as the air conditioning and cabin pressurisation equipment, it said.

It is available for Gulfstream G350, GIV, G450, GV and G550 and Pilatus PC-12/PC-12NG aircraft.

The two programmes offer full coverage on exchange and repair services at a predictable fixed price. The programmes use Honeywell’s Spares Exchange Programme to get grounded aircraft flying again.

Raghed Talih, Honeywell Aerospace’s director of business and general aviation for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa, said: “Our agreement with Saudi Oger demonstrates that even the largest bizliners can benefit from the cover our maintenance plans provide.

“As the first HAPP-protected BBJ operator in the Middle East, Saudi Oger has taken a fresh approach to safeguarding against unplanned grounding and is making its maintenance costs more predictable in the process.”