RAS expands to serve European and African regional carriers

Tuesday 30th September 2014

It will showcase bolstered capabilities at ERA GA 2014 Barcelona and Madrid MRO Europe

Barcelona, Spain. September 30, 2014 - Rheinland Air Service (RAS) has enjoyed a busy 12 months completing the expansion of its central European HQ in Mönchengladbach, near Dusseldorf, Germany, with an enhanced facility, effectively twice the size.  It now offers a new, second large hangar (4,300m2) including workshops and storage, plus space for six ATR 42/72 aircraft.

The overall 8,500m2 facility features an ever-growing parts warehouse, which includes many hard-to-find parts made available by the company's "parting out" of surplus ATR aircraft.  RAS has made this investment in response to continued demand from European carriers for expert maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services.

RAS will be duly showcasing its enhanced capabilities and resources at this week's European Regions Airline Association General Assembly in Barcelona, Spain (Booth A13) and next month at Aviation Week's MRO Europe Conference, during 7-9 October, at IFEMA Madrid, Spain (Booth 490, Hall 4).

Complementing its ATR network partner capabilities, RAS also has the flexibility to provide comprehensive EASA Part 145 approved MRO on other narrow-bodied aircraft including Airbus A318 to A321, Boeing 737-Classic to NG.  Other turboprop types that RAS expertly maintains, repairs, and overhauls include the Bombardier Dash 8, Fokker F27 Mk050, Jetstream and Shorts 300 series.

"When they look closer, this region's airlines discover that RAS offers them many unique advantages," said COO Walter Lange. "Our flexibility, convenience, competence, and customer-focused services set us apart."

Bolstered MRO facility in Windhoek, Namibia, new approvals granted

RAS also announces the completion of its African facility at Eros Airport in Windhoek, Namibia, a venture announced at the ERA General Assembly 2013 in Salzburg.  Completion on a large new hangar at the RAS' Aviation Centre makes for a convenient MRO destination for the country's expanding regional carriers.  New approvals have been recently received from Botswana and South Africa, enabling RAS's Aviation Centre to become the Sub-Saharan destination for professional Embraer ERJ 135/145 MRO services.

"Regional airlines can now replace expensive long ferry flights to Europe with a short local stop and they will appreciate that they finally have a practical alternative for local service," said Martin Funck, Windhoek Managing Director.

"As we continue to get this location up and running, operators benefit with a valuable new MRO choice, which also provides new employment opportunities for local technicians. That is a win-win situation for the region, for RAS, and for the airlines," he added.

About Rheinland Air Service

RAS is a recognized leader in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), plus aircraft sales, support, and fueling. With over 40 years of technical expertise, and employing about 210 staff across Europe and Africa, the RAS companies reliably serve Business, General, and Commercial Aviation.

For commercial airlines, RAS offers a full range of EASA-certified maintenance.  RAS was the first ATR MRO network partner in Europe and also offers ATR part-out services.

RAS in Business Aviation

RAS' Business and General Aviation activity includes qualified maintenance, as well as sales responsibility for HondaJet and the DAHER-SOCATA TBM series.  RAS is also a Piaggio Authorized Service Centre. In addition, RAS manages FBO handling services for passengers and crews at Munich (OBF, EDMO) and Düsseldorf-Mönchengladbach (MGL, EDLN) airports. RAS offers JET A1 fuel and into-plane refueling service at Berlin Schönefeld (SXF, EDDB), Düsseldorf-Weeze (NRN, EDLV), Frankfurt Hahn (HHN), Frankfurt International (FRA, EDDF), Mönchengladbach (MGL, EDLN), and Stuttgart (EDDS, STR).www.ras.de ">