The Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub has started operations in Seville, Spain, in line with the Full In-Service Support (FISS) model developed by the company.

This hub delivers spare parts for all Airbus Military products worldwide as well as ground equipment for the operation of the fleet.

The new facility substantially strengthens the spare parts delivery procedure by improving reliability and cutting dispatch times. With the new Services Logistic Hub, 95% of customer’s requests for spare parts will be fulfilled within five days. For Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) Service the dispatch time is reduced to a maximum of four hours. Delivery reliability has increased since the start of operations. The new set up will also mean a reduction in recurring operational costs of around €500,000 a year compared with traditional processes.

Philippe Galland, Head of Services, said: “Putting in place this Services Logistic Hub will reduce our delivery lead-times and guarantee fleet availability. We will be more competitive thanks to the cost reduction and customer satisfaction will also improve”. The Services Logistic Hub has been certified Part 145 by the Spanish agency for aviation safety AESA on behalf of its European counterpart EASA.

The FISS (Full In-Service Support) model is the integrated service model offered to all Airbus Military customers worldwide. It is based on years of experience providing support to customers around the world where and when they need it. The entry into service of the French Air Force’s first A400M at Orléans-Bricy air base is the latest example of FISS but it equally applies to the A330 MRTT, for example in the case of the Voyager at the Brize Norton base in the UK, and a growing number of C295 and CN235 operators. Today it covers around 90 aircraft of 11 customers, flying some 35,000 hours per year.

The new Services Logistic Hub employs 100 persons who manage about 22,500 different part numbers in its 8,300 square meters. Dispatch operations of the Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub are performed by Airbus lead logistic provider Kuehne&Nagel.

The Airbus Military Full In-Service Support (FISS) model aim is to generate the best possible operational performance through the provision of an integrated service focused on customer needs. It guarantees a specified mission availability, spare part availability and fleet availability at a fixed budget in a single contract. This enables operators to rely on the agreed mission availability while securing the advantages of robust budgeting. It is the basis of all A400M and A330 MRTT service contracts and is being implemented throughout the Light & Medium operator’s community.

Airbus Military is the only military and civic/humanitarian transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. An Airbus daughter company, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M (photo) program, as well as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A330 and for further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft. Together with the smaller “Light & Medium” C295, CN235 and C212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market for military transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft able to perform the most varied missions.

Altogether, Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft to some 140 military, civilian and governmental customers. More than 850 of these aircraft have been delivered. Airbus is an EADS company.