In future, JU-AIR will concentrate on the flight operations of its three historic JU-52s as a core business. Maintenance operations are closed; aircraft and engine maintenance is handed over to JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke and an external engine partner. In the course of the reorganization, co-founder and CEO Kurt Waldmeier will place the operational management of JU-AIR in new hands.
Parallel to the major overhaul of its three historic JU-52s, Dübendorf-based JU-AIR is also undergoing a complete renovation of its organization. The airline, which is part of the Friends of the Swiss Air Force Association (VFL), will focus on flight operations as a core business in the future.
The new organization will consist of operations, pilots and cabin crew, training and safety, ground services, passengers, operational planning and handling, and administration. The company's own maintenance company, which was previously responsible for ongoing maintenance, repairs and overhauls, is disbanded.
The technical support of the historic aircraft will be handed over to JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke AG, also based in Dübendorf, which is also responsible for the ongoing major overhaul of the three JU-52s. JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke will transfer the engineers and employees from the JU-AIR maintenance department to their new maintenance organization and thus ensure that decades of know-how on the historic aircraft are retained.
In future, ongoing engine maintenance will also be carried out by JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke. For major overhauls, the engines are handed over to an external specialist company. This is determined as part of the procurement of new engines for JU-AIR from the manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
JU-AIR is still primarily supported by volunteers. Around 100 volunteers, including pilots and cabin crews, will continue to form the operational backbone of JU-AIR.
Rejuvenation in management
There will also be a change in JU-AIR's operational management. In the course of the reorganization, JU-AIR is looking for a new manager. Co-founder Kurt Waldmeier (69) will relinquish his operational duties as CEO as part of the reorganization, but will remain available to JU-AIR for strategic questions.
The rejuvenation of JU-AIR's management had already begun before the tragic accident of last August 4. It will now be continued with a view to the resumption of flight operations in spring 2021.
“Not only the aircraft, but also the JU-AIR itself is being completely renewed. JU-AIR, which will fly again from 2021, will be a new JU-AIR,” says Kurt Waldmeier. “The new JU-AIR focuses on actual flight operations, passengers and volunteers.”
Although the reorganization is not directly related to the accident of last August, says Waldmeier, “the findings of the pending accident investigation by SUST will be incorporated into the new organization and its regulations. JU-AIR will continue to learn from the accident.”
Major overhaul of JU-52
JU-AIR's three JU-52s are currently undergoing a major overhaul. Numerous parts of the historic aircraft and engines are being replaced as a precautionary measure for reasons of age. The extensive project is being carried out by JUNKERS Flugzeugwerke and numerous specialist companies in Germany and abroad. Flight operations are to resume in spring 2021.
JU-AIR was founded in 1983 and is part of the Association of Friends of the Swiss Air Force (VFL). At Dübendorf airfield, the association, with around 160 volunteers, operates the Air Force Center with JU-AIR, the aviation museum, state-of-the-art event infrastructure and supervises the historical material of the Swiss Air Force. The association has more than 8,000 members.
Christian Gartmann has been the Communications and Media Officer at JU-AIR since 2018.