Mönchengladbach, September 2011

 

Rheinland Air Service Says Expansion and ATR Flight Control Approval Enhances Its MRO Capabilities for European Region Airlines
RAS Announcing Sizeable MRO Facility Expansion, ATR Approval for Flight Control Overhauls

Rheinland Air Service (RAS), Europe’s independently-owned regional aircraft MRO organization, is announcing its recent facility expansion – plus its all-new ATR approval– at era2011, the general assembly of the European Regions Airline Association. The event is being held 28th–30th September 2011, at the Marriott Rome Park Hotel in Rome, Italy.

Centrally based at Düsseldorf’s Moenchengladbach Airport, RAS is an EASA Part 145 and Part 21 approved organization. The company, which also holds approvals from Russia and Bermuda, focuses on base maintenance for the ATR 42/72 series. Additionally, RAS is authorized on the Boeing 737 series, the Airbus A320 family, Bombardier Dash 8s, Jetstream 31/41, and Fokker 50 aircraft.

At era2011, RAS will introduce the new and expanded facilities at its Moenchengladbach home base, which can simultaneously accommodate up to six ATR aircraft. The RAS facility now includes 400m² of workshop space; 200m² of office space; 400m² of parts storage space, a new paint shop; plus 200m² of staff space. Representing an investment of $1 million USD, the expansion that finished in early 2011 added an additional 1,200m² to the already-impressive 4,000m² RAS facility.

RAS will also be announcing its new ATR Repair and Overhaul approval certificate for Flight Controls. This approval follows a stringent, just-completed audit of the RAS facility and technicians. RAS’ exacting quality assurance beat the tight audit tolerances, leading to the company receiving just the second ATR Flight Control authorization in all of Europe.

“As one of only three companies in the world with this coveted ATR approval, our customers’ confidence and satisfaction can only increase,” says Johannes Schaesberg, RAS Chairman. “Combined with our recent maintenance facility expansion at Moenchengladbach, customers will experience even better, faster, and more reliable assistance with all their MRO needs.”

With the expansion, RAS is able to support continued growth in its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business. The company currently services more than 75 aircraft annually. Its broad range of MRO services include engine checks and repairs; structural repair of aircraft; component repair and overhaul; paint and interior work; cabin refurbishment; plus complete avionics installations and customizations (MPC modifications, TCAS, HF, ELT, EGPWS). From its well-stocked warehouse filled with $2 million USD in aircraft component parts, RAS is able to guarantee short turnaround times on repairs and meet customers’ fixed deadlines.

“With our new facilities, we further improve the special handling required for aircraft parts,” says Walter Lange, RAS Chief Operating Officer. “In addition, the expansion will help speed up the turnaround time on everything from component repairs to avionics solutions.”

European regional airlines rely on RAS, an EASA-approved Part 21 organization, for all types of avionics and electronics solutions. Avionics services include hardware and software updates and upgrades; flight-deck modifications; and system training. RAS is a dealer for Rockwell Collins and Honeywell avionics, and is authorized to install MPC modifications, EGPWS, HF, and TCAS systems for the ATR 42/72 used by many European airlines.

Besides explaining the benefits of its recent expansion and ATR Flight Control approval, RAS will also be discussing plans to build another maintenance hangar within the next 12–18 months, doubling its capacity. Stop by the RAS booth (#E1) at era2011 to find out more.

About Rheinland Air Service
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, RAS is one of the largest MRO companies for ATR base maintenance in Europe. The company employs about 130 people at its headquarters, its hangar in Duesseldorf-Moenchengladbach, in Duesseldorf-Weeze, Frankfurt-Hahn and Munich Executive Airport (Oberpfaffenhofen). For airlines, business and privately-owned aircraft, RAS provides qualified, EASA-certified maintenance and repair. For ground handling at airports, RAS offers a wide range of services. In Munich (OBF, EDMO) and Moenchengladbach (MGL, EDLN), RAS provides support for passengers and crews, as well as comprehensive services for aircraft supply. At the airport in Düsseldorf-Weeze (NRN, EDLV), Frankfurt Hahn (HHN) and Mönchengladbach (MGL, EDLN), RAS also offers aircraft refueling services. www.ras.de

For further information please contact:

Walter Lange, COO
Rheinland Air Service GmbH
Flughafenstrasse 31
D-41066 Mönchengladbach
Tel.: +49-2161-9948-100
Email: w.lange@ras.de