Story ID: 517 StevensAviationNBAA13
Stevens Aviation Announces New Service Initiatives
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: 
Word Count: 576
“Nose-to-tail” aircraft MRO and completions specialist Stevens Aviation is here at NBAA to announce several new service initiatives. A service provider for Beechcraft, Bombardier, Cessna, Embraer, Gulfstream, Piaggio and Pilatus, Stevens provides services ranging from aircraft painting to engine overhauls at five locations (Greenville and Greer, S.C.; Dayton, Ohio; Nashville, Tenn.; and Denver, Colo.) It has 124 technicians network-wide, with nine of them having earned “FAA Technician of the Year” honors.

The company (Booth No. C7338) is introducing a new premium maintenance program it calls “Buddy and Wizard,” which includes the assignment of a dedicated technical sales representative (buddy) and technician (wizard) who meet with the customer and describe the scope of work required. They will then be in direct contact with the customer while the aircraft is in the facility, on a weekly or even daily basis depending on customer preference. Once the work is completed, the pair will then sit down with the customer and discuss how the work was completed to insure it was done to the customer’s satisfaction. After delivery, customers can contact the staff at any time with questions. A technical sales representative will also conduct maintenance trend analysis on the aircraft, informing the customer when the aircraft needs to return for the next maintenance event.

Stevens was the Piaggio completions provider that finished the aircraft ordered by the now-defunct Avantair. According to company president Neal McGrail, Stevens’s recently opened Piaggio service center in Greer, S.C. is now seeing those same aircraft return for required maintenance to return them to airworthiness.

The company is currently in the final stages of the STC process for its Gulfstream GIV future air navigation system (Fans) upgrade, with equipment ready to be installed in a customer aircraft, according to Tom Grunbeck, the company’s recently appointed v-p of sales and marketing. Stevens expects final approval in the second quarter of 2014.

On the Pilatus PC-12 platform, the company expects its voice and Internet STCs to be granted in January. “We can put different manufacturers’ equipment as part of our STC so you have an option of what equipment you can use,” said Grunbeck. “We are the only company that is going to be giving the operator this option.” Certification of a similar package for the King Air 200, 300, and 350 will be based on the data package for the PC-12 and should be ready next May. A voice and Internet package for the Learjet 60 has already been certified and is available to customers.

For the King Air series, the company has reached an agreement with Colorado’s Finnoff Aviation Products to sell and install the MT 5-blade propeller for the King Air 200. This will be followed by a similar offering for the King Air 90 and the 350.

The company also offers a coast-to-coast, full-AOG response service with a one-hour dispatch and has serviced aircraft as far away as Alaska, providing mobile maintenance as well as modification capability.

Here at the show, Stevens is offering two specials: free full-service interior detailing for any aircraft maintenance ordered before December 1 and scheduled before April 1, 2014; and, for customers ordering the Garmin G1000 Flight Deck for the King Air models 200, B200, 300 and 350, it will offer a “platinum options” package upgrade worth approximately $25,000, consisting of the Garmin synthetic vision system, the GRC 10 wireless remote for the Sirius XM cabin audio entertainment and the Garmin ChartView option.