Ruag Aviation has signed with Yasava to collaborate on the Swiss design house’s Astral cabin concept for long-range large-cabin business jets such as the Dassault Falcon 7X, Bombardier Globals and Embraer Lineage 1000. The companies have already agreed to upgrade the standard interior of a Bombardier Global 6000 XRS. Under the terms of the deal, Ruag has agreed to perform the integration of the Astral cabins at its facility in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
Yasava developed the Astral cabin using what it calls intelligent ergonomics and socio-cultural design parameters. Features include a dedicated VIP zone encompassing a day lounge that converts into a private bedroom connected with a redesigned lavatory with full shower. The VIP area for the Bombardier Global features four 16-g electrically articulating and swiveling seats. Each seat electronically converts into a fully flat six-foot bed.
Moving from cabin couture to raw utility, Ruag has just finished an overhaul and upgrade project on a 33-year-old de Havilland Twin Otter at its facility in Bern-Belp, Switzerland. It performed the project on behalf of Blue Bird Aviation Yemen, which owns the airplane and approached Ruag following earlier experiences with engine and component overhauls.
Ruag carried out corrosion repairs on the wings, improving the aircraft’s lifespan and allowing the customer to avoid complete wing replacements. The program extends the life of the wings for a further 33,000 flight hours. Ruag also modernized the airplane’s cockpit with Garmin 650/750 touchscreen navigation displays integrated with an Aspen 1000 avionics suite that incorporates an autopilot system and new weather radar.
Finally, Ruag announced it has delivered the first of ten passenger-configured Dornier 228-212s ordered by the Venezuela government. The aircraft arrived and Venezuela’s Maracay Airport at the end of January. Placed at the end of last year, the order includes eight factory-new Dornier 228s and two used 228-212s, along with spare parts, ground equipment and training. Ruag expects to deliver the second airplane on order “shortly.”
Although Venezuela has registered the ten Dornier 228s as civilian aircraft, plans call for the Venezuelan Air Force to operate them on behalf of the government. The order represents the fulfillment of an election promise by Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to afford greater access to health care and government support to citizens in remote areas.
