AOG Support from Erfurt to Zurich: DA62 Departed Less Than One Hour After the Call
At approximately 18:30, a long-standing client called the Group CEO of Lohn Aviation directly. An urgently required spare part had to reach a commercial aircraft operated by a major international airline in Zurich. Aircraft availability was reviewed and the first operational decisions were made while the call was still in progress.
Less than one hour later, the selected DA62 was airborne from Erfurt to Zurich.
Initial situation
A technical issue was threatening the operation of a scheduled airline flight from Zurich. The required spare part was located in Erfurt and had to reach the affected commercial aircraft as quickly as possible.
The long-standing client contacted the Group CEO of Lohn Aviation directly on his mobile phone at approximately 18:30. There was no time for a conventional enquiry, quotation and approval process. Every additional delay increased the risk of the airline flight being cancelled.
The challenge
The task involved considerably more than finding an available aircraft. Several operational processes had to be completed simultaneously within an extremely limited timeframe:
- Selecting a suitable aircraft that was immediately available
- Confirming the operational feasibility of the mission
- Planning the flight from Erfurt to Zurich
- Requesting and coordinating the required airport slots
- Preparing and fuelling the aircraft
- Preparing the air waybill (AWB)
- Compiling the required transport and cargo documentation
- Coordinating German export and Swiss import formalities
- Arranging the handling and transfer of the spare part in Zurich
As commercial cargo was being transported from Germany into Switzerland, customs coordination had to be integrated into the mission from the outset. It could not be left until after landing.
The decisive factor was not the flight time alone. Success depended on processing every required decision, document and operational step in parallel.
Our assignment
Lohn Aviation was responsible for the entire operational transport chain in this case. This included aircraft selection, operation of the flight, flight planning, slot coordination, aircraft preparation and fuelling, as well as the complete cargo and customs process.
The flight was personally operated by the Group CEO of Lohn Aviation. At the same time, the permanently staffed Operations Control Center managed the operational planning and coordinated all parties involved.
The operational solution
At approximately 18:30: The long-standing client informed the Group CEO of Lohn Aviation about the AOG situation and the urgent requirement to transport a spare part from Erfurt to Zurich.
During the call: The available aircraft were reviewed. For the specific shipment and route, the DA62 was both operationally suitable and the most economical solution. A larger aircraft would have increased the cost of the mission without providing a corresponding operational benefit.
Immediately afterwards: The 24/7 Operations Control Center began flight planning, slot coordination and preparation of the required cargo and customs documentation. This included the air waybill (AWB).
In parallel at the airport: While the Group CEO travelled to the airport after the call, the ground crew removed the DA62 from the hangar and fuelled it. This prevented avoidable delays between the operational decision and the technical preparation of the aircraft.
Less than one hour after the call: The DA62 departed Erfurt for Zurich with the urgently required spare part on board. The Group CEO personally piloted the aircraft.
This response time was possible because direct accessibility, operational decision-making authority, aircraft availability, prepared ground support and the 24/7 OCC worked as one integrated structure.
The result
After arrival in Zurich, the spare part was transferred directly to the affected commercial aircraft and installed.
According to the client, this prevented the scheduled airline flight from being cancelled. The service operated with a delay of only 45 minutes.
The result was therefore not simply a rapid spare-parts flight. The decisive achievement was turning a direct telephone call into a fully prepared and executable AOG transport mission in less than one hour.
Insight for aircraft owners or clients
Effective AOG support requires more than a fast aircraft. It depends on direct accessibility, short decision paths, a permanently staffed Operations Control Center, responsive ground support and practical experience with cargo and customs processes.
The direct availability of the Group CEO accelerated this particular mission. However, personal accessibility only creates operational value when it is supported by a functioning organisation capable of acting immediately.
Honest aircraft selection is equally important. Lohn Aviation does not automatically recommend the largest aircraft available. It recommends the aircraft that can perform the specific mission reliably and economically. For this assignment, the DA62 was the appropriate solution.
Fairness means considering the client’s interests in every operational and commercial decision. Together with dependable execution, this approach forms the basis of long-standing client relationships.
Transparency notice
The flight was conducted within the operator and approval structure confirmed for this mission. Lohn Aviation was responsible for the complete operational coordination, including aircraft selection, flight planning, operation of the flight, slot coordination, cargo documentation, customs processing and ground procedures. The flight was personally operated by the Group CEO of Lohn Aviation.
To protect our clients, aircraft owners and partners, certain details relating to the aircraft, route, timing, participating companies and operational structure have been anonymised or slightly modified. The underlying assignment and the operational insights derived from it remain unchanged.
Request AOG transport
Do you urgently require a spare part or technical material for an aircraft that is unable to operate? Lohn Aviation coordinates time-critical AOG transport missions, including the aircraft, flight planning, airport slots, air waybill, customs processing and transfer at the destination.
The substance and factual content of this article come from the flying experience of our crew. AI assistance was used in drafting and structuring the text. It was reviewed and approved by our editorial team before publication.
