Collins awards 10-year maintenance and overhaul contract

Collins Aerospace has awarded a 10-year license agreement for the maintenance and overhaul of helicopter rescue hoists to Swiss engineering firm RUAG.

The move is intended to provide more convenient services to Collins’ European customers, reducing delivery times and downtime, as well as cutting expensive overseas freight costs.

Under the contract, RUAG will take over maintenance from 2022 for Collins’ 18 European customers, including the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).

RUAG will carry out all overhauls and upgrades to hoists at its Interlaken facility, and will work on a range of aircraft including Airbus EC135, Bell 429, and AgustaWestland AW109, AW139 and AW169 helicopters.

To support delivery of the contract, RUAG will also invest in a new soundproof testing room equipped with a semi-automatic testing system, and will stock its warehouse with appropriate spare parts.

Collins Aerospace also completed a US$30 million expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Monroe, North Carolina in July 2021.