[Avionics Today February 21, 2014] Technicians at RUAG Aviation’s facility in Bern-Belp, Switzerland completed an avionics overhaul for a 33-year-old DHC-6 Twin Otter.
RUAG said the overhaul was part of its re-life program, adding an Aspen 1000 avionics suite with autopilot and weather radar along with Garmin 650/750 touchscreen navigation displays to the cockpit.
The Swiss company also extended the use of the aircraft’s wings by 33,000 flight hours with corrosion repairs. The overhaul was completed for Blue Bird Aviation Yemen, the owner of the Twin Otter, which approached RUAG after previously receiving engine and component overhauls.
"The upgrades and modifications performed by RUAG Aviation have effectively made a new aircraft out of the Twin Otter 7O-ADH MSN 764,” says Simon Hafele, general manager of RUAG Aviation’s Bern/Belp facility.