Smooth landings… It’s a safe bet that if you own a Ferrari, you do not take it to the local Jiffy Lube for service. Owners of exotic cars travel hundreds of miles to get their prized possessions doted on. Shouldn’t we expect the same service for our airplanes?
If you own a Twin Commander you have access to a broad network of expert support. The Twin Commander service center network is a group on 14 independent operators that, together with the factory, have worked over many decades to provide the best possible service and support for the full range of Twin Commanders still flying today. Through sales, engineering, parts, and maintenance, the service centers provide everything a Twin Commander owner could need or want to help with the ownership process. Service centers can do everything from bring a part to an aircraft for an AOG situation to completely rebuild and refurbish an airframe.
Twin Commander Aircraft Acting Business Unit Director Brian Harbaugh said that the service center network is an integral part of the value of the aircraft. “By ensuring such a high quality of service and support, our service centers provide immeasurable value to fleet,” he said. “Individual owners see a benefit of having great service, but all Twin Commander owners also benefit from the strength of the fleetwide support.”
“We tapped Bruce Byerly for assistance with finding and buying our 840, and we were thrilled with the service and support that we received from Byerly Aviation.”
~Kent Titcomb, 840
A legacy aircraft’s inherent value comes down to how well it is supported through parts and maintainer expertise. In this area Twin Commander is unmatched. Each service center potentially has hundreds of years’ worth of combined experience working on Twin Commanders. And customers don’t have to worry about good or bad service centers in the network. Each has decades of longevity in the network, and some have been service centers since long before the airplane was out of production.
To being a service center technicians are mandated to be professionally trained specifically to work on Twin Commanders, and that they have the parts and speciality tools necessary to support the aircraft.
“The Extensive logbook and maintenance records that Eagle Creek organized for me helped speed the process to obtain an FAA Air Carrier certificate, and the necessary approvals that were issued.”
~Jeffrey Hunter, Talofa Airways, 690Bs
While all service centers focus on maintenance, parts, and upgrades, a few also specialize in Twin Commander sales. Byerly Aviation’s Bruce Byerly buys and sells dozens of Twin Commanders a year, and he said the service center network provides direct value to owners and operators in two ways. The first and most important is being able to enjoy an aircraft that you know has been well maintained. The second, he said, has to do with the value of the aircraft when it comes time to sell. “I don’t think there’s any question that a service-center-maintained airplane should give the buyer confidence that the airplane has been maintained by people that know how to keep the airplane in good condition. There’s substantially less risk for an owner and operator. To have a premium pedigree it has to have service center maintenance because those are people that know how to maintain the airplanes.”
Byerly said that people who are trying to save money during the ownership process are often delaying the inevitable to when they sell. “It’s the unknowns where you need to verify every little item that it can get expensive. Nobody likes a surprise.” He said there’s a level of trust that comes from buying and selling aircraft that have been professionally maintained at a service center. “A good portion of what you’re buying is the history and status of the airplane’s service history.”
“The new G950 that Eagle Creek suggested will fly the airplane better than an old analog autopilot. It’s more responsive. I’m really looking forward to them putting the airplane together and flying it.”
Abe Abuchowski, 690B
Twin Commander Aircraft works hard to support owners from all over the world. To that end, the network is also geographically spread out. There are service centers from California and Oregon to Ohio to Florida, and many in between. Internationally owners in Australia, Germany, England, and Venezuela can expect the same level of support with service centers in those locations as well.
“I appreciate the sense of community among Commander owners and operators, and at Legacy. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know RJ and the group of owners feels like family.”
Brad Van Liew, 690A Grand Renaissance
Three service centers have gone the extra mile to become Renaissance Approved, meaning they are additionally qualified to build Grand Renaissance Twin Commanders. They are Eagle Creek Aviation Services in Indianapolis, Indiana, Aero Air near Portland, Oregon, and Aerocentro in Venezuela.
“Our goal is to make Twin Commander ownership as pleasant as possible, as easy as possible, and to provide as much value as possible. I think through the service center network we’re able to accomplish that,” Harbaugh said.
Locate a factory authorized service center near you.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
