Twin Commander Factory, Service Centers
at Work Behind the Scenes
If you are like me, you probably own one or two--or more--pieces of high-tech gear, or �gadgets� as my wife calls them. As with any item of complicated machinery, a steep learning curve usually is involved in operating a new toy--er, essential piece of high-tech gear. Then, after some practice, the complex workings become rather routine. It is in the honeymoon period, when I first buy that new gadget and spend every waking moment trying to figure it out, that I give pause to think about what it took to get that miracle of modern science into my hands.
First, there was an idea. Next, some design work, then some prototyping and more trial and error to get things just right. After the backers inevitably burn through a significant amount of capital, the product rolls off the production line and the marketing buzz gets folks lined up around the block to make a purchase. Everyone is happy!
It doesn�t end there, however. Post-sale support has to be provided, technical questions have to be answered, and the inevitable issues that pop up have to be addressed. Altogether, a heck of a lot goes on behind the scenes to deliver and support the product.
It is no different when it comes to that other piece of high-tech gear we all know and love--Twin Commanders. That beautiful airplane is our focus, but like a sweet new car or a sleek smart phone, it�s what goes on behind the scenes that makes it all work.
Twin Commanders have remained popular over the years because they continue to deliver three qualities most important to aircraft owners and operators: competitive performance, contemporary technology, and value. The simple fact is that maintaining that edge would not be possible without the behind-the-scenes involvement and support of the Twin Commander factory and service center network.
Those of us who live in that network do like all working people do: we wake up in the morning, come into the office, and tackle a laundry list of issues, projects, and ideas. When we check one project off the list, another one is waiting to take its place. Every idea must be vetted and issues prioritized based on resource constraints. It all happens behind the scenes. Something else that goes on behind the scenes that is little recognized but of critical importance is training.
The training, skill, and experience of the technician corps throughout our service center network are big reasons why Twin Commanders have enjoyed such passion for so long among owners and operators, and in the marketplace. For a company to be in good standing as a Twin Commander-authorized factory service center, it must have technicians on the shop floor who have received formal factory-authorized, Commander-specific training. When you decide to visit an authorized service center for scheduled or special inspections, you can be assured that your Commander will be given the kind of informed care that only trained and experienced technicians can provide.
To ensure that the Twin Commander factory service center training is the best it can be, we recently made some significant changes. In looking at the training program, we realized that we should, and could, use the 1,000-plus years of knowledge and experience that the technician core throughout our dedicated service center network possesses.
We�ve leveraged that experience with the storehouse of Twin Commander knowledge residing in the factory and service center network to develop a training program for Service Bulletin (SB) 241 modifications on the 690-series aircraft. Shops that will be conducting SB241 inspections will first send technicians through the training to ensure that Commander owners and operators flying affected aircraft will have this complex service bulletin done right in the most expeditious manner possible.
Service-bulletin-specific technician training is just one of the behind-the-scenes developments underway at Twin Commander Aircraft. When the SB241 training program is up and running, others will take its place in our must-and-will-do file. So keep your eyes open for some exciting new developments coming soon in the Twin Commander world. Good things are happening.
Matt Isley, President, Twin Commander Aircraft LLC
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