ASDWire distribution date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:27:00 GMT +0100

Fokker Services signs ABACUS component availability agreement with SA Express

Dash 8 component support for SA Express

Johannesburg, February 16, 2010 --[ASDWire]-- Today, at the Air Africa 2010 conference in Johannesburg, Fokker Services signed an ABACUS Component Repair Service agreement with SA Express in support of their 7ea Bombardier Dash 8-Q300 aircraft.

Under the two-year contract, plus option to extend for another three years, Fokker Services will provide repair and overhaul services for SA Express at fixed cost and within a guaranteed Turn Around Time.

ABACUS, the component availability program of Fokker Services, is fully geared to keeping aircraft in operation. The program offers guaranteed availability of serviceable components and customized component repair and overhaul services. Currently Fokker Services supports over 200 aircraft with 30 operators in various configurations of which 5 Dash 8 operators with 34 aircraft.

SA Express, founded in 1994, is one of the fastest growing domestic and regional carriers in the Republic of South Africa. They operate an all Bombardier fleet of 12ea CRJ200, 2ea CRJ700, 2ea Dash 8-Q400 and 7ea Dash 8-Q300.

As Ramon Vahed, General Manager Technical Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering of SA Express explains: ‘’We trust that this Dash 8 ABACUS component agreement will result in lower inventory cost and improved service levels. We have been working with Fokker Services over the past year to develop this agreement and are convinced that it will add value to our operations. The experience of Fokker Services in supporting out of production aircraft is an asset for the industry.”

“We are honored with SA Express joining our ABACUS program,” says Erik Geertsema, Vice President Component Solutions of Fokker Services. “For us this again proves that we have a tuned solution for regional aircraft. This is also a major next step in our global Dash 8 approach. We will work with SA Express and mutually develop further improvements for the continuous competitive operation of the Dash 8 fleet.’’

About Fokker Services
At present there are 700 operational Fokker aircraft across the world. The Fokker aircraft has earned a reputation for advanced technologies, comfort, operational reliability, low noise level and durability. Many consider the Fokker among the best mid size aircraft ever built. Besides the Fokker aircraft, Fokker Services is serving operators with the Bombardier Dash 8 and other out of production aircraft, with its logistic flight hour program ABACUS.

Fokker Services is part of Fokker Aerospace Group, which develops and produces advanced components and systems for the aerospace industry, and supplies integrated maintenance services and products to aircraft owners and operators. In 2008 the group achieved a turnover of € 597 million with 3,700 employees.

At the Air Africa 2010 conference, in Johannesburg, Ramon Vahed (SA Express) and Erik Geertsema (Fokker Services) sign an ABACUS component availability agreement for the SA Express Dash 8 aircraft.

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