Rolls-Royce opens first service delivery centre in the US

Rolls-Royce has opened a new Service Delivery Center at Naval Air Station Kingsville (TX) to support T-45 aircraft used to train US Navy and Marine Corps pilots.

The Service Delivery Center (SDC), the first such facility opened by Rolls-Royce in the United States, provides on-site support to repair engines and manage service operations forRolls-Royce F405 (Adour) engines, which power the T-45 two-seat training aircraft. Under aRolls-Royce MissionCareTM contract, the company provides engine availability and readiness, reducing risk and administrative burden on the US Navy, and allowing the service to focus on its training missions. Rolls-Royce has successfully provided Power by the Hour®service to the US Navy for its F405 engine fleet since 2003. That includes T-45 aircraft flown at Kingsville and NAS Meridian (MS), as well as small fleets at Navy sites at Pensacola (FL) and Patuxent River (MD).

Paul Craig, Rolls-Royce, Director, Services, said, “The first Rolls-Royce Service Delivery Center in the US demonstrates our commitment to providing the best support possible for the US Navy and its mission to train the aviators of the future. Our successful approach to managing engine service and support will continue a legacy of engine readiness and availability.”

Capt. Christopher Misner, commanding officer of NAS Kingsville, said, "Naval Air Station Kingsville is proud to have been able to assist Rolls-Royce in finding a home for their first U.S. Service Delivery Center. Rolls-Royce is an essential partner in supporting Training Air Wing Two's mission of training half the carrier-qualified pilots in the Navy and Marine Corps."

The MissionCare contract encompasses everything from repair and overhaul to embedded engineering and field service support at NAS Kingsville. Rolls-Royce manages spare parts, inventory, logistics, engineering improvements, technical support and other services.

The new SDC at Kingsville is based on a highly successful model developed and operated byRolls-Royce at Royal Air Force Marham, UK. The support system puts engineering and services staff on-base, working closely and collaboratively with the service to increase efficiency and communication.

The Rolls-Royce F405 (Adour) engine powers a variety of military aircraft around the world, with more than 8 million engine flight hours.