Independent testing laboratory for type testing and EN certification of paragliders, harnesses and reserve parachutes.
Air Turquoise SA
Villeneuve (Switzerland)New on Amplifa
About us
Air Turquoise SA is an independent testing laboratory for aerial sports equipment based in Villeneuve (Switzerland). The company performs type testing and certification of paragliders in accordance with EN 926-1 (strength test) and EN 926-2 (flight test), of reserve parachutes in accordance with EN 12491, and of harnesses in accordance with EN 1651. Further testing standards are NfL 2-565-20 as well as AFNOR S52-503 for kite safety systems. Since April 2009, Air Turquoise SA has been recognized by the LBA as a testing laboratory for type inspection of aerial sports equipment under German aviation law (LTF, 2. DV LuftGerPV). Since the introduction of the EN standard, more than 2,500 paragliders in all categories (A, B, C and D) have been tested. Customers are paraglider and equipment manufacturers worldwide, including companies such as Advance, Ozone, Gin Gliders and Swing. Founder Alain Zoller has been testing paragliders since 1989 and has been involved in the development of the EN standard since 1994.
- Site
- Villeneuve
- Processes
- EN 926-1:2015 paraglider strength test, EN 926-2:2013+A1:2021 paraglider flight test, EN 12491:2015+A1:2021 emergency parachutes (rescue) certification, EN 1651:2018+A1:2020 harness certification, NfL 2-565-20 (LTF, 2. DV LuftGerPV) type inspection of aerial sports equipment, AFNOR S52-503 kite security systems certification, EN certification of paragliders (categories A, B, C, D), over 2,500 paragliders tested, Type testing of paragliders in accordance with EN 926-1 and EN 926-2
- Materials
- Polystyrene (protection, harness protection), Paraglider strength testing (EN 926-1:2015), Paraglider flight test (EN 926-2:2013+A1:2021), Reserve parachute testing (EN 12491:2015+A1:2021), Harness testing (EN 1651:2018+A1:2020), Type inspection of aerial sports equipment (NfL 2-565-20), Kite safety systems (AFNOR S52-503)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2000, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 17020, ISO 9001, LBA recognition (type inspection)
- Founded
- 1995
- Employees
- 3
- Industries
- Paragliding, Aerial sports equipment manufacturers
- 01
Standards development in CEN/TC 136/WG 6 (representation since 2010)
- 02
Strength testing in accordance with EN 926-1
- 03
Flight tests in accordance with EN 926-2
- 04
Testing of reserve parachutes (EN 12491) and harnesses (EN 1651)
- 05
Type inspection under LTF for Germany
- 06
Publication of the certification reports
Testing standards and procedures
Paraglider strength testing (EN 926-1:2015)
Testing of the strength of paragliders, among other things with polystyrene protection in the harness test.
Paraglider flight test (EN 926-2:2013+A1:2021)
Flight testing and classification of paragliders into categories A to D.
Reserve parachute testing (EN 12491:2015+A1:2021)
Certification of reserve parachutes (rescues).
Harness testing (EN 1651:2018+A1:2020)
Certification of harnesses for paragliding.
Type inspection of aerial sports equipment (NfL 2-565-20)
LBA-recognized type inspection under German aviation law (LTF, 2. DV LuftGerPV).
Kite safety systems (AFNOR S52-503)
Certification of safety systems for kites.
Location
Villeneuve
CHTesting center and office
- Materials
- Paragliders, harnesses, reserve parachutes, kite safety systems
- Testing equipment for strength tests in accordance with EN 926-1
- Test site for flight tests (test pilots on a freelance basis)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN 926-1:2015 paraglider strength testTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| EN 926-2:2013+A1:2021 paraglider flight testTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| EN 12491:2015+A1:2021 emergency parachutes (rescue) certificationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| EN 1651:2018+A1:2020 harness certificationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| NfL 2-565-20 (LTF, 2. DV LuftGerPV) type inspection of aerial sports equipmentTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| AFNOR S52-503 kite security systems certificationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| EN certification of paragliders (categories A, B, C, D), over 2,500 paragliders testedTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality & Accreditations
Air Turquoise SA is certified in accordance with ISO 9001 (since 2006) and ISO/IEC 17020 (since 2015) and is recognized by the LBA as a testing laboratory for type inspection of aerial sports equipment. Management and administration are monitored annually according to ISO 9001 standards.
| Evidence | Villeneuve |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| ISO 17020 | |
| LBA recognition (type inspection) |
History
- 1994
Claude Thurnheer started as a test pilot; start of the development of the EN standard in working group WG6.
- 1995
Alain Zoller founded Air Turquoise.
- 2005
Publication of the EN standard after eleven years of development work.
- 2006
Start of the EN test procedures (January/March) and ISO 9001:2000 certification.
- 2009
Upgrade to ISO 9001:2008; LBA recognition as a testing laboratory for type inspection of aerial sports equipment (April).
- 2010
Two representatives of Air Turquoise SA in CEN/TC 136/WG 6.
- 2015
Additional ISO 17020 certification due to changed supervisory rules in Germany.
- 2016
Celebration of 10 years of EN certification.