Press Release

Issued by General Atomics AeroTec Systems.

May 20, 2016

RUAG's business jets operations has completed one of its most challenging one-stop shop projects to date, earning high praise from a prominent customer. In February 2014, RUAG Aviation received a request from a Bombardier Global Express XRS customer for a high-end, complete refurbishment of the cabin interior, as well as system upgrades, an 8C check and full aircraft repainting. The project was brought to a successful conclusion in January 2016.

Customer feedback on RUAG's services and performance in this extensive project has been outstanding, with each aspect of the project a shining example of top quality and reliability. RUAG Aviation is proud that, after delivering the aircraft, the customer described RUAG as “one of the best Bombardier Global service centers”.

RUAG Aviation appointed a cross-divisional project team to ensure the smooth implementation and completion of this challenging project. The team managed all the requirements, ensuring adherence to the customer's vision and objectives, acting as a liaison between the designers and the customer, and coordinating the technical teams.

“The first design and specification meeting quickly proved this would be one of our most challenging projects so far,” states André Ebach, manager operations and sales business jets. He continues, “The project needed to stay in line with demanding completion trends, short turnaround times, the highest quality requirements, affordable pricing and professional service and project management. Furthermore, the level of minute detail of the refurbished interior and the ambitious design, even customer expectations, were all incredibly high.”

The full scope of the VIP project gave RUAG Aviation the opportunity to showcase its expertise and capabilities, including its recognised specialist skills in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) during the 8C check. When carrying out the alterations to the cabin interior, the RUAG design team had to combine new materials and processes with proven skills, replacing all wooden applications, veneers, varnishes, plating and soft furnishings, as well as new seats and divans, complete with leather and fabrics. The high-profile customer also decided to match the new cabin interior with state-of-the-art cabin system upgrades, which required several modifications to be installed and certified. These upgrades comprised full-spectrum LED mood lighting in the cabin, galley, entrance area and lavatories, dual channel satcom Swift BB with WiFi and GSM connectivity, acceleration and channel bonding, Internet Television (IPTV) over satcom Swift BB, and new wireless handset system, as well as transitioning from cabin IFE to high-definition standard (HD-IFE), consisting of new HD monitors, HD source equipment, 3D wireless Airshow, distributed and streamed AVOD with SkyBox and Boxee integration.

The comprehensive overhaul of the Bombardier Global Express also included a full repainting of the aircraft's exterior surfaces. The acceptance report on the exterior repainting was completed in just 90 minutes, and the customer representatives were greatly impressed by the quality of the paintwork.

RUAG Aviation provide business jet customers with one-stop shop solutions, performing all required services including MRO, cabin interiors, painting, system upgrades, FBO, and support and consulting.