New Operator for the Sion Site

With the unbundling of the former RUAG Group, it has become clear that the MRD business with certain civil helicopters does not offer significant synergies with military helicopters, and thus is no langer compatible with the new ownership strategy.

For this reason RUAG has been seeking interested parties to take over the business and, in particular, retain the employees’ jobs so as to continue to provide the existing services and ensure the survival of the MRO base.

RUAG has now found the right purchaser in the form of Centaurium Aviation MRO AG. The contracts are all concluded, thereby securing the continued survival of the base. Both the activities and also the employees’ jobs will be taken over by the new owners. The operation will be handed over on July 1. 2024.

Centaurium Aviation MRO is a subsidiary of Centaurium Aviation, an independent provider of helicopter services since 2011, headquartered in Grenchen, Solothurn. Centaurium Aviation is an independent sales partner for the US company Bell Helicopters and is mainly active in the sale and leasing new and pre-owned helicopters.

With its ten employees, Centaurium Aviation MRO currently operates an Avionics Shop in La-Chaux-de-Fonds and a Composite Repair Shop in Belp. Centaurium Aviation MRO has recently taken over a maintenance hangar in Bern-Belp as part of its expansion of its MRO business. The acquisition from RUAG of the MRO base for civil helicopters in Sion represents a further step along this road.

“We are delighted to be able to take over the experienced and competent employees of RUAG and a perfectly equipped MRO shop. With the new location in Sion, we will further expand our core competence in helicopter maintenance and continue to provide professional maintenance work and services for existing and new customers with our team of experts,” says Lukas Nyffenegger, CEO of Centaurium Aviation MRO.