For operators of Collins Aerospace–equipped aircraft, the cost and timing of unscheduled avionics maintenance can be among the more difficult variables to manage in an annual operating budget. The Collins Avionics Service Program — CASP — addresses both: it converts unplanned avionics costs into a flat per-flight-hour rate, and it shortens the time an aircraft is out of service when a Collins unit requires repair.
Aeronautical Aviation is an authorised Collins Aerospace dealer. We facilitate CASP enrolment for operators across Southern Africa and the broader African region, and act as the local point of contact for the programme throughout the contract term.
The brief that follows sets out the programme's structure, the cover it provides, the exclusions that apply, the aircraft-availability benefit, and Aeronautical Aviation's role in supporting enrolled clients.
Programme overview
CASP is a price-per-flight-hour maintenance programme covering Collins Aerospace avionics and cabin equipment installed on the aircraft. The programme's structure is straightforward:
- Price per flight hour, set per aircraft and tier
- One- or two-year contract terms, with annual billing paid in advance
- 125 to 250 minimum annual flight hours, depending on aircraft and tier
- Annual flight-hour reconciliation at year-end, with credit or debit subject to the minimum
- No pre-inspection costs and no buy-in fees — enrolment is direct, and coverage commences on activation
- Transferable on aircraft sale, without interruption of benefits and at no additional cost
The programme is offered in three tiers, allowing operators to match the level of cover to flight-hour profile and risk preference.
The three tiers
| Tier | Best suited to | Min. annual hours | Coverage profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASP Essential | Low-flight-hour turboprops and light business jets | 125 hrs | Core programme with five free exchange / rental events |
| CASP | Operators seeking comprehensive cover | 200–250 hrs | Unlimited exchanges, rentals and repairs; removal-and-refit labour; free troubleshooters |
| CASP Elite | Operators requiring the highest service level | 200–250 hrs | All CASP benefits plus 12-hour order-to-ship time, troubleshooting labour, sales incentives, and an aftermarket Collins STC purchase discount |
Coverage summary
The CASP and CASP Elite tiers include the following, per the Collins programme guide:
- Unlimited exchange, rental and repair units
- Reliability service bulletins included
- Free expedited repair requests
- Five hours of labour reimbursement toward RVSM recertification
- FMC, MDC and ADC battery replacements
- Free troubleshooting units
- Removal and refit labour (CASP and Elite)
- No restocking or recertification fees for unused exchange units
- Up to five "no fault found" events without penalty (ten on Elite)
- Order-to-ship within 24 hours (12 hours on CASP Elite), pending part availability
Specific coverage varies by tier; full detail is set out in the Collins CASP 2026 Program Guide.
Programme exclusions
The following items sit outside CASP coverage, per the Collins Aerospace programme guide:
- Damage not related to normal installation and operation (for example, corrosion)
- Optional service bulletin upgrades (for example, WAAS / LPV, TCAS 7.1, ADS-B)
- Customs, courier, broker, import and export fees
- Obsolescence replacements
These items remain the operator's responsibility regardless of how CASP is enrolled.
Aircraft availability and return-to-service
A core feature of CASP is the exchange model. Where a Collins unit develops a fault, Collins dispatches a rotatable spare from its worldwide distribution network rather than requiring the operator to wait for the original unit to be repaired and returned. Per Collins:
- Rotatable spares are held in a worldwide distribution network and ship within 24 hours of order receipt (12 hours on CASP Elite)
- The failed unit is returned separately for repair under the programme
- The aircraft is back in service once the exchange unit is installed, independent of the repair lead time on the failed unit.
Aeronautical Aviation's role
Collins identifies three official routes to enrol in CASP: through an authorised Collins Aerospace dealer, through a local Collins representative, or directly with the CASP team. Aeronautical Aviation is an authorised Collins Aerospace dealer and is positioned to act as the operator's representative throughout the enrolment process and the contract term.
In practical terms, this includes:
- Tier review against the aircraft. A panel-by-panel assessment of the installed Collins units, annual flight-hour profile, and risk preference, with all three tiers quoted to support the decision with relevant data.
- Enrolment administration. Submission of the application, follow-through with Collins, and confirmation of activation.
- A local point of contact. South African business hours, and a single team responsible for the relationship throughout the contract.
- Annual review and renewal. Reconciliation of flight hours against the minimum at year-end, and a tier review at each renewal.
Aeronautical Aviation represents Collins-equipped operators across Southern Africa and the broader African region for CASP enrolment.
Suitability
CASP is available to operators of aircraft fitted with Collins Aerospace integrated flight decks — common examples include Pro Line 21, Pro Line Fusion, Pro Line 4 and Pro Line II. The programme is well-suited where:
- Aircraft utilisation meets the 125 or 200–250-hour annual minimum for the appropriate tier
- Predictable annual operating cost is a planning priority
- Aircraft availability has a direct or indirect revenue impact
- The current panel includes Collins units approaching the age at which cycle repairs become more frequent
Next step
Operators interested in evaluating CASP for their aircraft are encouraged to contact Aeronautical Aviation for a tier review and an indicative quotation. We will work through the panel with you, confirm the eligible Collins units, and provide a programme quote across all three tiers ahead of enrolment.
Or contact the team directly at sales@aeronautical.co.za or +27 11 659 1033.
Aeronautical Aviation is an authorised Collins Aerospace dealer, based at Hangar 202, Gate 7, Lanseria International Airport. SACAA AMO No. 1033. Programme structure, coverage, and exclusions are summarised from the Collins CASP 2026 Program Guide; specific terms are confirmed at quotation. Clinton Carroll is a qualified pilot and the founder and CEO of Aeronautical Aviation.
