Nuremberg-based Aero-Dienst is expanding its product portfolio. The component shop which began operation two years ago in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, can now perform all services on life rafts by the Winslow LifeRaft Company, a division of Collins Aerospace. Aero-Dienst recently received approval from the German Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) for the overhaul, ELT reprogramming, exchange and new sale of Winslow life rafts.

The annual capacity of the component shop is approximately 500 life raft overhauls, performed by a team of eight experts. This team consists of technicians with several years of life raft experience and one employee with 10 years of consulting and sales experience of Winslow life rafts.

“We are very pleased to now be able to offer a full range of services to life raft customers,” says Ralf Dohle, manager of the component shop in Landsberg who adds, “the corona-related restrictions didn’t exactly facilitate the approval processes.”

Aero-Dienst offers its customers an AOG service with a 24-hour turnaround time for life rafts, which is being increasingly used. “If we receive the life rafts in the morning, they will be shipped back to the customer on the same day,” says Ralf Dohle.

As a product requiring explanation, life rafts raise many questions, especially in the area of approval. The team of experts at Aero-Dienst can answer these questions optimally thanks to its long experience. Aero-Dienst is also a partner for the (re)packaging and placement of life rafts in the aircraft cabin in accordance with the customer's needs and wishes.

“For us, this is an important milestone in our portfolio,” says André Ebach, head of maintenance at Aero-Dienst. “Our customers appreciate the short repair and turnaround times, especially because life rafts are components that require regular maintenance. With our experience as an aircraft operator, as a maintenance facility and as a service centre for various aircraft types, we are convinced that as an authorised service station for Winslow life rafts we will be able to meet our customers' wishes even more effectively.”