This Hawker 700 inspection process began with an on-site records review by Dale, Chief Inspector at SoCal Jets. He flew out spending one day running through the log books and the flight manual to search for anything that may be out of the ordinary (such as a history of damage or unauthorized alterations to the aircraft). At the same time Dale reviewed any upcoming maintenance. The buyer was not only interested in a records review, but also wanted to accomplish maintenance that was due six months out.
During this initial review, it was determined that the aircraft had a substantial amount of maintenance coming due, most notably an intensive 12/24/48 month airframe inspection. We prepared a summary of all the upcoming maintenance so that the buyer could correctly ascertain an accurate value for the aircraft. The 48-month inspection is the biggest airframe inspection to be done on a Hawker. The inspection includes such things as the removal of the interior, Non-destructive testing (including x-rays of the fuselage), avionics upgrades and structural inspections. Though most of the work on the aircraft can be considered routine maintenance, often squawks arise that need to be repaired. In this case the aircraft was discovered to have fuel leaks which were repaired prior to delivery.
Inspecting leading edge
The Hawker was purchased with a freshly completed 48-month inspection, adding significant value to the end buyer. Combining a pre-purchase inspection with routine maintenance is a time/cost saving decision that Jet Endeavour Trading recommended. This decision effectively reduced the time and work involved in going through a routine inspection, and then a short time later, tearing apart the aircraft once again for a pre-buy. The aircraft was previously operating under a Part 91 certificate, and will continue to do so.
A decade long-standing customer brought this Hawker for service. As is the nature of corporate aviation, effective networking and a continued commitment to service is vital for maintaining trust and succeeding in this industry.