RUAG completes annual inspection on three Italian Army Dornier 228 aircraft, adding ADS-B Out avionics and mini-tablet holders
September 3, 2019 - RUAG MRO International has fulfilled the annual inspection on three Dornier 228 aircraft with special mission configuration belonging to the Italian Army. The inspections were carried out at the RUAG facilities at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. In addition to the heavy maintenance check, the customer opted to upgrade the avionics for each aircraft to comply with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ADS-B Out/EHS mandates for 2020.
Mini-tablet holders were also introduced to the cockpit environment. The inspections were completed on schedule and to full customer satisfaction. RUAG is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Dornier 228.
The three heavy maintenance inspections were planned consecutively to ensure continuous aircraft availability for missions out of the Italian Army’s operating base at Viterbo, Italy. Each event was designed to optimize downtimes by including additional installations and avionics options.
Prioritizing compliance with upcoming EASA ADS-B Out/EHS mandates for 2020, the Italian Army planned the avionics modification to coincide with each Dornier 228’s annual inspection. They also chose to combine the events with a retrofit of the VHF radios to 8.33 kHz spacing.
“Preventing potential operating limitations resulting from the upcoming regulations is a crucial issue for the Italian Army,” states Michael Franz, Director Customer Support Dornier 228, RUAG MRO International. “With this in mind, they entrusted our engineering specialists with the complete ADS-B system integration for all three of their Dornier 228 aircraft.”
RUAG’s engineering team also designed and integrated mini-tablet holders for the pilot and co-pilot controls. Michael Franz confirms, “Improving safety through heightened situational awareness and reduced pilot workload is a priority for the Italian Army. The mini-tablet holders were specifically developed to respond to these criteria.”
“The Italian Army relies on our team for solutions that contribute to continued aircraft availability and the success of their daily missions,” states Volker Wallrodt, Senior Vice President Business Jets, Dornier 228 & Military, RUAG MRO International.
“We strive to provide robust and sustainable support in our role as an OEM and, especially, as the Italian Army’s primary provider for maintenance, repair and overhaul services.”
The Italian Army operates their three Dornier 228 classic aircraft for paratrooper training, passenger and material transport, and pilot training. RUAG meets their MRO requirements within the framework of a comprehensive maintenance contract, in place since 2003. The agreement ensures continuous aircraft availability according to mission and operational schedules.
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RUAG MRO International is an independent supplier, support provider and integrator of systems and components for civil and military aviation worldwide. It also develops and supports simulation and training systems and solutions for international trained security forces.
Highly specialized in the support of aircraft and helicopters throughout their entire life cycle, the company includes maintenance, repair and overhaul services, upgrades, and the development, manufacture and integration of subsystems and components in their service portfolio.
In addition, as the manufacturer (OEM) of the Dornier 228, a versatile aircraft for special missions as well as passenger and cargo operations, RUAG focuses on customer support solutions, including OEM services.
Moreover, RUAG MRO International is a developer, OEM and system support provider for simulation and training systems technology for live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training. Complex and flexible functions, and a holistic approach, support realistic training scenarios, adapted to mission goals, at individual, team and unit instruction levels.
