London Biggin Hill airport-based aircraft interior, exterior and completions company RAS has received EASA Part 145 approval and has appointed a new managing director.

Since the UK's departure from the EU in December 2020, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is no longer a part of the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), with both entities controlling their own Part 145 systems.

To continue serving its European client base, RAS, as a subsidiary of Jet MS and an integral family member of the Avia Solutions Group, decided in 2020 to apply for EASA Part 145 approval to complement its existing UK CAA approvals. Approval was cleared on 19 November, 2021 following initial approval from the UK CAA on 1 January, 2021. Throughout this year, EASA has reviewed all of the documentation relevant to the Part 145 verification process before making its final approval.

“Resulting from months of close coordination between RAS and our appointed EASA surveyor, RAS Interiors is very pleased to receive the final official confirmation of our EASA Part 145 approval,” says quality manager Beverley Winter. “This is a testament to the RAS culture of continual improvement and our dedication to ensuring we continue to support our European customers, both current and future.”

EASA Part 145 approval is a company level certification to the European Commission Regulation standards of design, production, maintenance and operation of aircraft components. To ensure full compliance with regulations some amendments were required, and these were fulfilled and achieved while the final approval process was ongoing and the company continued to work under both EASA and UK CAA approvals.

Regarding the company's ability to continue its working relationship with European clients, acting accountable manager/engineering manager Carl Ebdale adds: “I would like to thank everyone involved that contributed to achieving our certification. This now secures our business within Europe for Part 145 cabin refurbishments.”

RAS has also appointed Keiron McNeill as managing director.

“It is with great pleasure that I commence my new role with RAS Completions and Interiors, along with joining the global ranks of the Avia Solutions Group family,” says McNeill. “I am aware that there will be many challenges on the road ahead, but I am buoyed by the resilience demonstrated by the aviation sector in what has been some of the most challenging times witnessed by any industry. My goal will be to help lead the company forward through the next stages of its development, and I greatly look forward to the support and assistance of a hugely experienced team of leading industry specialists.”

McNeill was previously CTO for Loganair in the UK market, where he was a member of the airline's leadership team charged with responsibility for the technical introduction of the Embraer 135/145 fleet along with the ATR 42/72 into the airline's resources.

He brings with him extensive experience gained with regional and international airlines, VVIP operations, and the aviation resource industries in Europe, the Middle East and Australia with names such as Virgin Atlantic, BHP Billiton and the VVIP Bahrain Royal Flight. He has also undertaken many engineering leadership roles which stem from his foundation in engineering as a UK/EASA Licensed Aircraft Engineer. He also holds a BA(Hons) in Business Management from Lincoln University.