Bendix King to pull all repairs in-house. No more field repairs.

[Mark van Wyk]

This has been posted on a few other forums, so I thought I would share here for those who have not yet seen it to see the reactions. In a nutshell, Bendix King sent a letter to all authorized dealers that they (dealers) will no longer be allowed to repair BK radios. Dealers will no longer get parts or documentation. All BK avionics must be send directly to BK and for a flat fee ($thousands) the customer will receive a refurbished unit that comes with a one-year warranty. The letter is reprinted below. Getting out the popcorn.
---------
May 1, 2017

ATTN: Channel Partner
RE: Channel Partner Repair Services Authorization

To improve customer satisfaction for repairs of BendixKing LRUs, BendixKing will be directing the repair of the products listed below through the Honeywell SPEX Exchange program effective 60 days from the date of this notice.

Effective July 1, 2017 BendixKing Authorized dealers are no longer authorized to conduct repairs of identified BendixKing LRUs as detailed on the attached table. Any field, in-process repairs will continue to be permitted between May 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017.

As of July 1, 2017, authorized dealers will receive a 20% Dealer Discount on the SPEX Exchange List Price for that particular LRU. This 20% Dealer Discount will also apply to any LRU which must be repaired at a Universal Flat Rate (UFR) or Time and Materials (T&M) price.

This new repair and exchange process will enable the aircraft owner to have an LRU shipped and installed in their aircraft within a few days. The aircraft owner will receive a unit that was repaired and tested under strict factory adherence and will carry a one year warranty. BendixKing anticipates this quick turn-around-time will be available for over 50% of the most common LRUs in operation.

For BendixKing Authorized dealers who have inventory of affected LRUs, an equitable credit can be promptly provided to your Honeywell account and restocking fees will be waived.

Program benefits include:
- Aircraft Owners receive a replacement unit within a few days
- Aircraft Owners receive a one year warranty (previously 3 months on repaired work)
- Authorized dealers have the ability to focus on new business and new installs, especially with the ADS-B out mandate quickly approaching

Between the quicker Turn-Around-Time, better warranty, and the 20% Dealer Discount, this new process will greatly benefit the aircraft owner and BendixKing Authorized dealer. BendixKing looks forward to continued partnering efforts to support operators and customers in 2017.

Formal contractual notification of this change is forth-coming.

Sincerely,
Gregg Cohen
President,

Part Numbers (and all suffix flavors indicated by -x, -xx, or -xxxx) which will be handled through the Honeywell SPEX program Part Number Model
Part Number Model
Part Number Model
060-00040-xxxx KRG0333
066-01143-xxxx MST0067A
066-3060-xx KNI0582
060-0013-xx KSG0105
066-01145-xxxx TPU0066A
066-3077-xx KAV0485
060-0015-xx KG 0102A
066-01146-xxxx TPU0067A
069-01032-xxxx KX 0155A
060-0017-xx KI 0256
066-01152-xxxx KTA0810
069-01033-xxxx KX 0165A
060-0026-xx KVG0350
066-01156-xxxx KT 0076C
069-1024-xx KX 0155
061-00013-xxxx KFD0840
066-01164-xxxx KT 0073
069-1025-xx KX 0165
064-01065-xxxx KTR0909
066-01171-xxxx IVA0081D
071-00074-xxxx SU 0463
064-01071-xxxx KCU1051
066-01175-xxxx KMH0820
071-00158-xxxx KAC0502
064-01084-xxxx KY 0196B
066-01177-xxxx KTA0910
071-00159-xxxx KAC0501
064-1015-xx KTR0953
066-01178-xxxx KMH0920
071-00166-xxxx KAC0504
064-1016-xx KCU0951
066-01179-xxxx KI 0825
071-00168-xxxx KAC0503
064-1017-xx KAC0952
066-01196-xxxx KGP0560
071-0019-xx KA 0158
064-1023-xx KTR0908
066-01197-xxxx KGP0860
071-00221-xxxx KA 0061
064-1051-xx KY 0097A
066-01204-xxxx KSN0770
071-01251-xxxx KA 0138
065-00015-xxxx KSM0375
066-01206-xxxx KFD0840
071-01438-xxxx CP 0466A
065-00158-xxxx KCP0520
066-01213-xxxx KSN0765
071-01439-xxxx CP 0467
065-00159-xxxx KMS0540
066-01227-xxxx MKXXI
071-01507-xxxx KFS0578A
065-0015-xx KSM0375
066-03054-xxxx KI 0250
071-01508-xxxx KA 0090
065-00162-xxxx KSA0572
066-03062-xxxx KEA0346
071-01511-xxxx CP 0469A
065-00164-xxxx KTA0336
066-03064-xxxx KEA0130A
071-01519-xxxx ART2000
065-00167-xxxx KSM0575
066-03123-xxxx ED 0461
071-01546-xxxx KFS0599A
065-00176-xxxx KC 0140
066-03125-xxxx ED 0462
071-01548-xxxx ANT0067A
065-00178-xxxx KS 0270C
066-03137-xxxx ED 0551A
071-01550-xxxx ART2100
065-00179-xxxx KS 0271C
066-04021-xxxx SG 0465
071-01553-xxxx KA 0092
065-00180-xxxx KS 0272C
066-04031-xxxx KLN0090B
071-01568-xxxx CP 0066B
065-00183-xxxx KC 0225
066-04034-xxxx KLN0900
071-01599-xxxx KA 0815
065-0056-xx KSA0372
066-04035-xxxx KMD0540
071-01618-xxxx PS-578
065-0060-xx KS 0271A
066-1021-xx KR 0021
071-01619-xxxx PS-550
065-0061-xx KS 0272A
066-1044-xx KMR0675
071-01620-xxxx KA 0096
065-0064-xx KCP0220
066-1055-xx KMA0024H
071-04037-xxxx KA 0033
065-0069-xx KCP0420
066-1066-xx KDM0706A
071-1052-xx KMT0112
065-0076-xx KSA0470
066-1067-xx KN 0053
071-1234-xx KA 0044B
065-0082-xx KDC0481
066-1069-xx KDI0574
071-1268-xx KA 0594
065-0085-xx KDC0222
066-1070-xx KN 0063
071-1270-xx KA 0162
065-0086-xx KMC0321
066-1072-xx KR 0087
071-1274-xx KFS0594
065-0089-xx KAS0297C
066-1078-xx KNR0634A
4092743-902 KDR0610
065-0091-xx KAM0432
066-3031-xx KNI0415
57000228-001 KA 97
065-0147-xx KAU0461
066-3034-xx KI 0203
80-5145-10-x TRA0045A
065-5046-xx KTA0435
066-3046-xx KI 0525A
80-5145-4-x TRA0045A
066-01130-xxxx KN 0040
066-3056-xx KI 0209A
80-5145-9-x TRA0045A
066-01141-xxxx KT 0070

[Mike M]

Wonder if this is because nobody can troubleshoot, or nobody can solder those iddy-biddy components onto a printed circuit board any more? (that's a joke, folks)

[DaleB]

Wait, Bendix King still exists?




Hmmm, no yawning pilot emoticon. Bummer.

[martymayes]

I think it's so they can keep up with the rest of the industry.

[Floatsflyer]

Wait, Bendix King still exists?

Hmmm, no yawning pilot emoticon. Bummer.

Fun fact: Don't know if you've ever been to Oshkosh and seen the Bendix King exhibit space. BK is so confident in their future and business success that they are the only exhibitor that has built a permanent year round display building.

[Bill Greenwood]

I had King KX=175 nav coms in my plane and loved them, not the fanciest features, but the just kept on working day after day, year after year and if the did not a minor repair most any avionics shop could do it and usually in an hour or two. The pres of King told me himself they were not going to discontinue this radio, but then Allied bought them and there it went.
Im sorry to hear this change, just seems like greed by the factory to me, unless there is some other explanation. Who want to have to send off their unit for a couple of weeks and a huge fee? As it is now I go to my shop and they examine the unit and mostly fix it same day or if a part is neeeded they order it and put the unit back into my panel for me to use until the part comes in.
I need a glideslope adjustment now, better get it to my shop befrore the 60 days hits.

[Mark van Wyk]

I had King KX=175 nav coms in my plane and loved them, not the fanciest features, but the just kept on working day after day, year after year and if the did not a minor repair most any avionics shop could do it and usually in an hour or two. The pres of King told me himself they were not going to discontinue this radio, but then Allied bought them and there it went.
Im sorry to hear this change, just seems like greed by the factory to me, unless there is some other explanation. Who want to have to send off their unit for a couple of weeks and a huge fee? As it is now I go to my shop and they examine the unit and mostly fix it same day or if a part is neeeded they order it and put the unit back into my panel for me to use until the part comes in.
I need a glideslope adjustment now, better get it to my shop befrore the 60 days hits.

You send your radio off and you don't even get the same one back. You get a refurb. And, it's a flat fee no matter how minor the problem. Rather than greed I'm afraid it's the death thoes of a company that once dominated the market. Or rather, the main company Honeywell is giving up on it's tiny unprofitable subsidiary.
I am amazed at the prices we are seeing in avionics nowadays. Garmin. Aspen. Etc. The cost for ADS-B Out. Etc.

[Floatsflyer]

I am amazed at the prices we are seeing in avionics nowadays. Garmin. Aspen. Etc. The cost for ADS-B Out. Etc.

Yup. For most, flyin' ain't for the faint of heart or the lightness of bank account. Horses(the so called sport of kings) and the horsey set ain't got nothin' on airplane ownership.

[Kyle Boatright]

I think it's so they can keep up with the rest of the industry.

Yep. Someone ran the numbers and decided that BK could make more money doing all repairs in-house.

That's business.

Probably won't win them many friends in the field, though.

[FlyingRon]

That's what Narco did that put the final nails in their coffin.

Or as one of my favorite lines from Dodgeball goes:


Cotton McKnight: I'm being told that Average Joe's does not have enough players and will be forfeiting the championship match.
Pepper Brooks: It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.