5 September 2019: RUAG MRO International has completed the annual inspection on three Dornier 228 aircraft with special mission configuration which belongs to the Italian Army. The inspections were conducted 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 added to the cockpit environment. The inspections were completed on time 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 make sure continuous aircraft availability for missions out of the Italian Army's operating base at Viterbo, Italy.
"Preventing potential operating limitations resulting from the upcoming regulations is a crucial issue for the Italian Army," said 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."
Michael Franz continues, "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," said 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."