Our Maintenance Philosophy

Aircraft maintenance is not simply about fixing things when they break — it is a disciplined, proactive approach to preserving airworthiness, ensuring safety, and protecting the long-term value of your multi-million-dollar asset. At Plane Selection, our maintenance oversight philosophy is built on three core principles: prevention over reaction, transparency in all communications, and cost optimization without compromise on safety.

Every aircraft under our management is assigned a dedicated maintenance controller — an experienced aviation maintenance professional who serves as the single point of accountability for all maintenance matters related to your aircraft. Your maintenance controller maintains intimate familiarity with your aircraft's configuration, maintenance history, recurring discrepancies, and upcoming maintenance requirements. This continuity of oversight ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

We leverage industry-leading maintenance tracking systems to monitor every aspect of your aircraft's maintenance status in real time. Airworthiness directives, service bulletins, life-limited components, calendar-based inspections, and engine program enrollments are all tracked digitally with automated alerts and proactive scheduling. You can view your aircraft's complete maintenance status at any time through our owner portal.

Scheduled Maintenance

Scheduled maintenance events are the backbone of any aircraft maintenance program. These manufacturer-prescribed inspections and service intervals ensure your aircraft remains in peak operating condition and full regulatory compliance. Plane Selection manages the complete lifecycle of scheduled maintenance:

Inspection Types

• A-Check (Line Maintenance): Performed every 200-800 flight hours depending on aircraft type. These are routine inspections typically completed overnight or during a short turnaround. They include general visual inspections, fluid level checks, tire and brake assessments, and minor discrepancy corrections. Duration: 1-3 days.
• B-Check: An intermediate inspection performed every 6-8 months. More detailed than an A-check, B-checks include specific system tests, filter replacements, and component inspections as defined by the manufacturer's maintenance planning document. Duration: 1-3 days.
• C-Check (Heavy Maintenance): A comprehensive structural and system inspection performed every 12-24 months or at specified flight hour intervals. C-checks require the aircraft to be taken out of service for an extended period and involve extensive access panels being opened, detailed structural inspections, and system functionality testing. Duration: 1-3 weeks depending on aircraft type and work scope.
• D-Check (Major Overhaul): The most extensive and expensive scheduled maintenance event, performed every 6-12 years. A D-check involves virtually complete disassembly of the aircraft for thorough structural inspection, corrosion treatment, system overhauls, and interior refurbishment. Duration: 4-8 weeks. Cost can range from $500,000 to several million dollars depending on aircraft type and findings.

Engine Maintenance Programs

Engine maintenance represents the single largest maintenance cost category for most aircraft. Plane Selection manages enrollment and administration of engine maintenance programs offered by major OEMs and third-party providers:

• Rolls-Royce CorporateCare: Comprehensive engine coverage for Rolls-Royce powered aircraft
• Pratt & Whitney Eagle Service Plan (ESP): Hourly cost engine programs for P&W engines
• GE OnPoint: Engine maintenance programs for GE/CF34 powered aircraft
• Honeywell MSP: Maintenance service plans for Honeywell TFE731 and HTF series engines
• Williams FJ44 TAP: Total Assurance Program for Williams-powered light jets

We analyze each owner's operational profile to recommend the most cost-effective engine program. For some operators, hourly enrollment programs provide the best value; for others, a time-and-materials approach may be more economical. Our analysis considers annual utilization, planned ownership period, engine condition, and current market rates.

Unscheduled Maintenance

Despite the best preventive maintenance practices, unscheduled maintenance events are an inevitable reality of aircraft operations. When discrepancies arise — whether identified during pre-flight inspections, in-flight operations, or post-flight reviews — rapid and effective response is essential to minimize operational disruption.

Our approach to unscheduled maintenance includes:

• Immediate technical assessment: Our maintenance controllers evaluate each discrepancy to determine its nature, severity, and impact on airworthiness. We classify issues by their operational impact: grounding (AOG), operational limitation, or deferred maintenance.
• MEL/CDL management: When appropriate, we utilize the aircraft's Minimum Equipment List (MEL) or Configuration Deviation List (CDL) to safely dispatch the aircraft while deferring non-critical repairs to a more convenient time and location. This minimizes trip disruptions while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
• Rapid parts sourcing: Our parts procurement team has relationships with OEM parts distributors, PMA suppliers, and aircraft salvage/exchange companies worldwide. We can source most parts within 24-48 hours, with AOG parts often available for same-day shipment.
• Mobile repair teams: For aircraft grounded at locations without adequate maintenance facilities, we can dispatch mobile repair teams equipped to perform a wide range of maintenance tasks on-site.
• Alternative lift coordination: When maintenance downtime will impact your travel plans, our operations team can arrange alternative charter aircraft to keep you on schedule while your aircraft is being repaired.

MRO Network

Plane Selection maintains preferred relationships with maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities worldwide. These relationships, built over two decades of operations, provide our managed aircraft with:

• Priority scheduling and reduced turnaround times
• Negotiated labor rates (15-20% below standard pricing)
• Direct communication channels with shop management
• Quality assurance oversight by our maintenance controllers
• Competitive warranty terms and workmanship guarantees

Our MRO network includes authorized service centers for all major OEMs — Bombardier, Dassault, Gulfstream, Textron Aviation, Embraer, and Pilatus — as well as independent MRO facilities selected for their specialized capabilities and consistent quality. We continuously evaluate MRO performance through our quality assurance program and adjust our network recommendations based on real-world results.

Parts Procurement

Effective parts procurement is critical to minimizing maintenance downtime and controlling costs. Our dedicated parts procurement team manages all aspects of component sourcing:

• OEM new parts from authorized distributors
• FAA/EASA-approved PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) alternatives where appropriate
• Overhauled and serviceable exchange units from certified repair stations
• Rotable component exchange programs to reduce downtime
• Warranty claims management and tracking

Every part installed on your aircraft comes with full traceability documentation — FAA 8130-3 or EASA Form 1 airworthiness approval tags — ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and protecting your aircraft's maintenance records.

Maintenance Tracking and Documentation

Meticulous maintenance documentation is essential for regulatory compliance, safety, and preserving your aircraft's resale value. We employ industry-leading computerized maintenance tracking systems that provide:

• Real-time status of all maintenance items, airworthiness directives, and service bulletins
• Automated alerts for upcoming inspections, component life limits, and calendar-based requirements
• Digital work order management with full traceability
• Component serial number tracking and back-to-birth traceability
• Maintenance cost tracking and trend analysis
• Regulatory-compliant record keeping meeting FAA, EASA, and TCCA requirements

All maintenance records are stored digitally in secure, redundant systems with backup protocols that exceed industry standards. Physical records are maintained in climate-controlled storage as required by regulation. When it comes time to sell your aircraft, buyers and their pre-purchase inspection teams will find a complete, well-organized maintenance history that supports maximum resale value.

Cost Optimization

Maintenance costs represent a significant portion of aircraft operating expenses, and effective management can yield substantial savings without compromising safety or quality. Our cost optimization strategies include:

• Competitive bidding: For major maintenance events, we solicit proposals from multiple qualified MROs to ensure competitive pricing
• Work scope review: Our maintenance controllers review every proposed work scope to identify unnecessary items and ensure the scope is appropriate for your aircraft's condition and operational profile
• Maintenance event consolidation: When possible, we combine inspections and service bulletins into a single maintenance event to reduce downtime and avoid redundant labor charges
• Proactive component management: We monitor component condition and life remaining to plan replacements at the most economical time, avoiding the premium costs associated with unplanned failures
• Warranty management: We aggressively track and pursue warranty claims for all eligible components, recovering manufacturer obligations that many operators overlook