BAE Systems has won a contract from Swiss International Air Lines to supply D-C cargo hold fire detection and suppression system modification kits for the conversion of the airline’s 20-strong fleet of Avro RJ jetliners.
Swiss has taken the decision to modify its aircraft ahead of a possible European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated requirement. Both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have mandated this upgrade and, as a result, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has in the past provided modification kits to airlines in these countries.
The fleet of BAe 146/Avro RJs operated by Cobham Aviation Services in Australia, as well as the original fleet of Avro RJs operated by Mesaba Airlines in the United States (now largely operating with CityJet in Ireland) have been converted. In addition, BAE Systems has supplied kits to TNT Express for the upgrading of their fleet of European-based BAe 146QT freighters.
