Geneva-based TSA Transairco has decided to enlarge and modernise its facilities over the course of the year, to cope with increased demand. The company recently began its fourteenth retrofitting programme, a Falcon 20 owned by a US Fortune 50 company. Its management chose the retrofit because it felt there would be significant improvements in terms of operational flexibility and direct operating costs. The work can also improve the range and performance of an aircraft.

Deputy general manager, Jean-Pierre Sauval, revealed: “Our expertise can also be applied to the Falcon 50 series. Negotiations have already started with several operators for retrofit and avionics enhancement, including integrated flight control systems, RVSM-compliant air data systems, turbulent weather radar and integrated avionics (among other things).”

Located at Geneva Airport the company houses a paint shop, which it says is one of the very few European facilities to offer ‘oven-type’ drying. The team of painters are mostly real artists, performing complete paint works, from exterior paint stripping, airframe polishing and protection, to scheme drawing and spraying. A spokesman added: “During the last year more than a dozen different aircraft have been totally repainted by TSA Transairco, at the rate of approximately one a month for the large airframes. Recent aircraft models include Falcon 20s, 50s, 900s and 2000s, Learjets and Citations.

“Several single engine and twin engine turboprops such as Pilatus and Beechcraft have also been repainted recently, apart from a number of partial repainting on various aircraft components and parts.”

Despite Transairco’s order book steadily increasing over the last few months, the company admitted a “rather poor” set of financial results for last year. “Compared to year 2000’s turnover, 2001’s felt slightly - from CHF 57.7 million to CHF 55.6 million. Total sales derived primarily from regular maintenance work. Once again, avionics refurbishment made a key contribution to overall results, with two more Falcon 20 Collins ProLine IV avionics retrofits completed during the year,” said the spokesman.