RUAG’S One-Stop Makes the Best of Downtimes
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RUAG’S One-Stop Makes the Best of Downtimes
RUAG Aviation, a leader in aircraft maintenance and products interrogation, is offering a special service for business aviation customers: the one-stop shop principle. The idea is to make a schedule overhauled, maintenance or refurbishment break as efficient as possible by performing other task at the same time. RUAG operates this as a distinctive service at its Geneva, Lugano and Munich sites.
The goal is to help the customer keep the aircraft flying productively for as long as possible by avoiding additional downtimes in the nearer future, as well as to add new features while the aircraft is in maintenance. “For instance, during an aircraft’s heavy maintenance check, we can review possible upcoming maintenance and refurbishment requirements,” says Mark-Andre Mann, head of Sales Business Jets Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen.
When we see that a change of the leather or carpet will be necessary we discuss it with the customer, especially when we know that he plans on owning and operating his aircraft for a longer time.”
Over decades of dealing with business aviation, RUAG has accumulated a lot of know-how not only about the different types of aircraft but also about the different kinds of customers. “Some simply want to have their aircraft in good shape, or make it look exactly the same again, but fresh, every 10 years. Others always want the latest technologies and developments to be installed in their aircraft,” says David Ricklin, general manager of the Geneva site.
Therefore, RUAG is investing significantly in innovative engineering to offer new features for business jets, he says. “We are creating solutions in partnership with other companies. Thanks to our Design Organization approvals, we certify the new solutions to the latest EASA and FAA rules, and then own it exclusively,” confirms Ricklin . For example, over the last six months, RUAG has developed three new supplemental type certificates (STCs) for the Dassault Falcon.
Among them: electronically dimmable window shades. The EASA-certified solution has no moving parts or pleated curtains,” says Ricklin.
Another plus is the attractive location of the RUARG facilities. “Many of our customers are flying to Geneva and then doing business while the aircraft is in our shop. . Or they go for a ski-holiday in the Swiss Alps ,” says Ricklin.
Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen owns another special feature: the cabin design, materials selection showroom. Here customers can see , touch and feel a wide bandwidth of materials, their textures and different smells. “By changing the materials you can really change the appearance of an aircraft,” says Mann.
Early this year RUAG completed a major three-month project in Munich: The Indian owner of recently purchased Bombardier Global 5000 wanted a complete cabin recycling, with a second divan at the rear of the cabin to create a really big double bed. A lot of engineering had to be done, new floor plans were necessary, and new side panels had to be mounted. The inflight entertainment system was also upgraded. Then the aircraft was repainted.
RUAG Geneva recently installed dimmable windows in a Falcon, which also went through complete cabin refurbishment at the same time. This included the wood veneer, a new gallery and new inflight entertainment system.
