Page 6 - 15th july 2024

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

under EASA aviation legislation by the
LBA to the budget process, the first
flight and the start of flight operations.
We successfully started operations
at Discover with wet lease flights for
Air Dolomiti before we operated our
inaugural flight as an airline to our first
own destination in Mombasa. We then
successively added further routes to our
network, for which we as CAMO con-
tracted maintenance providers. In the
first six months, the CAMO expanded
its capability list from A330-200 over
A330-300 to A320 with the associ-
ated regulatory audits. We successfully
carried out an IOSA initial audit and
accompanied the first C-Checks at LTP in
Q - As an experienced aviation profes- try to enhance their ability to execute Manila. I think we started work very suc-
sional, what strategies have you imple- maintenance tasks efficiently as well cessfully as a CAMO team at that time
mented to optimize the quality, safety, as effectively and furthermore have and have continued to develop steadily.
and efficiency of technical processes in a better understanding of decisions Even though the role of the NPCA is an
aircraft maintenance? being taken by the management. This operational role in flight operations, it
Ans - First of all, I would like to take transparent and inclusive strategy not manages the entire maintenance of its
this opportunity to point out that I took only ensures high operational standards own fleet. I hope you will accept this
over responsibility as Managing Direc- but also aligns the entire organization answer at this point.
tor of RAS SAAR GmbH less than three towards achieving its strategic objec-
months ago. I think that in order to get tives, thereby maintaining the highest Q - What role does innovation play in
an all-embracing picture and derive levels of service quality and customer your approach to solving challenges in
changes and initiate the first steps, a satisfaction aircraft maintenance and repair?
good leader must above all observe, Ans: Aircraft maintenance is a complex
talk to employees, listen and in particu- Q - Could you provide an example of and critical field, facing several chal-
lar understand. I am currently still in the a successful organizational change or lenges that impact efficiency, safety,
evaluation phase and am working on improvement initiative you’ve led in and cost-effectiveness. Some of the
possible optimization strategies with the aviation maintenance sector? challenges are technological advance-
my team. I would therefore like to take Ans: As I have only been a member ment, regulatory compliance, skill
this opportunity to explain my under- of the RAS for such a short time, I am shortages, supply chain management,
standing of what the optimization of unfortunately not yet able to give an environmental concerns, aging aircraft
quality, safety and efficiency of techni- example of how a change process has fleets to name just a few. Innovation
cal processes in aircraft maintenance been led by me. These will come, but plays a crucial role in overcoming these
depends on. they still need to be specified. I think challenges by introducing advanced
I think optimizing technical processes the best example of such a change technologies and methodologies that
in aircraft maintenance is driven by process that I was able to accompany enhance operational readiness, solve
a commitment to continuous organ- in a leadership role was during my obsolescence issues, reduce mainte-
isational learning and staff empower- time as a Nominated Person Continu- nance-related costs and strengthen sup-
ment. The company needs to foster a ing Airworthiness (NPCA) at Discover ply chains. At the RAS Group, we need
culture of an ability to ongoing change, Airlines, where I helped set up the to take a closer look at some innovative
continuous education and training to airline’s Continuing Airworthiness solutions and evaluate how they can
ensure that all team members and the Management Organization (CAMO). increase efficiency, improve quality and
whole organisation stay abreast of the Discover Airlines was founded as a new reduce costs.
latest industry advancements and best airline within the Lufthansa Group with Such innovative solutions could be
practices. Transparency is a cornerstone no organizational structure or shell Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR &
of my approach, ensuring that quality, to fall back on. The entire operational VR). AR and VR can be used for training
compliance, safety, and strategic goals and organizational structure had to be maintenance personnel or providing
are communicated and understood at defined from scratch and integrated real-time assistance during mainte-
all levels. into the Lufthansa Group. nance tasks. These tools can enhance
By empowering staff with the techni- All technical processes had to be the learning experience, improve skill
cal knowledge and tools they need but designed, tested and established, from levels, and ensure that complex proce-
also on the strategic long-time goals, I the selection of personnel and approval dures are followed accurately. Another

6 15 July, 2024 www.mrobusinesstoday.com