THE TERM “MAINTENANCE CONSORTIA” IS USED TO INDICATE EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THE DAILY OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF AIRPLANES WITHIN COMMERCIAL AVIATION. THESE KINDS OF COMBINED EFFORTS ARE NOT UTOPIAN SITUATIONS BUT CAN BE VERY FACTUAL, VERY REAL, AND VERY PROFITABLE. EARLY FACTORS WORKING TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF COMBINED MAINTENANCE SUPPORT EFFORT WERE LACK OF COMMUNICATIONS, ISOLATION OF AIRPLANES TO RATHER SMALL AREAS DUE TO THEIR SLOW SPEEDS, DIFFICULTY OF LOGISTICS --MUCH OF WHICH RESULTED FROM LACK OF COMMUNICATIONS, LACK OF STANDARDIZATION OF AIRPLANES, LACK OF COMMON PURPOSE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE CARRIERS, LACK OF COMMON STANDARDS AND CONTROLS, PLUS MANY OTHER FACTORS COMMON TO AN EMBRYONIC INDUSTRY.
EARLY IN THE GAME, ATTEMPTED CONSORTIA TENDED TO DILUTE CORPORATE IMAGES BY BEING DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THE HANDLING OF CUSTOMERS…THUS DESTROYING THE ASPECTS OF INDIVIDUAL PASSENGER ATTENTION.
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT REMOVED FROM THE MARKETING FRONT HAS GOOD CHANCES FOR SUCCESS. THE EARLY ALLISON ARRANGEMENT FOR UNIT EXCHANGE OF ENGINES IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCKHEED ELECTRA WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE TRANS WORLD/AMERICAN CROSS-SERVICING OF TWO ENGINES WAS THE FIRST SUCH ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN MAJOR AIRLINES. INITIAL JOINT EFFORTS IN THE 747 AND THOSE FORESEEN WITH THE DC-10 AND 1011 AIRPLANES, WHICH ARE GREATLY ENHANCED BY MORE STANDARD CONFIGURATIONS, EASE OF INSPECTION, UNDERSTOOD MAINTAINABILITY CONCEPTS…ARE ALL CONDUCIVE TO MAINTENANCE COMBINES.
PROJECTED ARRANGEMENTS NOW INDICATE CLEARLY THAT MUCH CAN BE DONE TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM UTILIZATION OF REAL ESTATE, FACILITIES, WAREHOUSING, PARTS POOLING, CROSS-SERVICING, ETC. THESE CONCEPTS ARE WELL-UNDERSTOOD, ESTABLISHED, AND PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.