ATR-RAS

European turboprop aircraft manufacturer Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) has appointed Germany-based Rheinland Air Service (RAS) as a new member of its network of partner maintenance centres under a new service and collaboration agreement.

The addition of RAS to its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) network is part of ATR’s plan to develop and offer its operators a worldwide network of independent suppliers of aircraft maintenance services.

With this agreement, RAS has become the first MRO in Europe to join the turboprop aircraft manufacturer’s network.

Under the terms of the deal, RAS will participate in ATR’s service policy, which offers optimal solutions to operators meeting certain accepted standards and also fundamental customer service rules defined by ATR.

RAS COO and managing director Walter Lange said that RAS was focused on heavy maintenance for ATR aircraft, and ATR’s market success over the past decade has helped RAS to achieve strong growth within the same time frame.

The company will double its capacity by constructing a second maintenance hangar to meet the increasing ATR customer base in Europe, Lange added.

"In the coming months, we are going to continue to develop the MRO network by selecting other maintenance companies worldwide to increase proximity to our customers."

ATR product support and services director Lilian Braylé said: "In the coming months, we are going to continue to develop the MRO network by selecting other maintenance companies worldwide to increase proximity to our customers."

ATR’s MRO network is controlled by ATR’s customer support department, which provides maintenance, logistics and training services to ATR operators.

The company stated that the addition of RAS to its MRO network demonstrates the compliance of RAS maintenance facilities in Monchengladbach, which specialise in the heavy maintenance of ATR airframes.

ATR currently has approximately 60 operators with more 320 aircraft in operation with 25 countries in Europe.

RAS provides of aircraft maintenance services for different versions of the ATR 42 and the ATR 72, while also offering services on the Boeing 737 series, A319 series, Bombardier and Fokker aircraft among others.


Image: Officials of ATR and Rheinland Air Service at the signing of the new service and collaboration agreement. Photo: courtesy of ATR.

Defence Technology