RUAG acquires Geneva-based TSA Transairco SA from Pilatus

The RUAG technology group is to acquire TSA Transairco SA, a subsidiary of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd that is based at Geneva International Airport, with retroactive effect as of 1 January 2007. The acquisition marks the further strengthening of RUAG's business jet maintenance network. By acquiring TSA Transairco SA, a Dassault-approved Major Service Center for Falcon business jets, RUAG is expanding its service offering, strengthening its maintenance network and establishing a presence in Geneva, the Swiss airport most frequently used by business jets. RUAG will be taking over all 115 employees and continuing TSA's operations, including sales and servicing of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft for certain countries such as France, Belgium and the French-speaking African countries. It will also be continuing the fixed base operation, i.e. the dispatching and fuelling of customers' aircraft. TSA generated sales of around CHF 50 million last year. The purchase price is subject to a secrecy agreement.
www.ruag.com

Twin Otter back on line

British Columbia's Viking Air, which last year announced that it was considering re-starting production of the 19-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, last week confirmed the program will proceed after meeting its required goals. Viking Air has booked launch orders from Trans Maldavian Airlines, Loch Ard Otters,  Air Seychelles, Tahiti's Air Moorea and from Zimex Aviation of Switzerland. Deliveries of new aircraft will commence within 24 months.
The new Series 400 aircraft, selling for US $3.2m in 2006 dollars, is based on the original 19-seat Series 300. It will incorporate a number of improvements based on today's available technologies. The original de Havilland Twin Otters were built between 1965 and 1988, when 844 were delivered. More than 600 remain in active service today.
www.vikingair.com

NBAA Continues Focus on Safety

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) last week announced the release of an entirely new Member benefit in the form of an interactive, 90-minute training aid designed to reduce approach-and-landing accidents. Produced for NBAA Members in partnership with Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), the NBAA ALAR Training Aid customizes the FSF Approach-and-Landing Accident Reduction Tool Kit materials for business aviation users.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 50 percent of air transport accidents occur during approach and landing, making the issue critical for aviation safety.
www.nbaa.org

People: Rüdiger Grube
New EADS Chairman of the Board of Directors

The EADS Board of Directors appointed Rüdiger Grube to join Arnaud Lagardère as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Grube has been member of the EADS Board of Directors since 2004 and will succeed Manfred Bischoff.
Dr. Grube was born in Hamburg on 2 August 1951. Following commercial/technical training in aircraft construction at Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), he studied aircraft construction and automotive engineering at the University for Applied Sciences in Hamburg and graduated as a qualified engineer. He later studied vocational and business teaching. In 1986 he completed a doctorate in the areas of industrial science and polytechnology. Dr. Grube then joined MBB in 1989, later Daimler-Benz Aerospace.
He has been a member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG since 1 October 2001, with responsibility for the Corporate Development which includes Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions, Industrial Participations and worldwide Information Technology. Dr. Grube is married and has two children. He likes to spend his scarce free time visiting European countries and cities with his family.
www.eads.com