India-based domestic commuter airline Spirit Air has signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 6 factory-new Islander aircraft, which will be built on the Isle of Wight by Bembridge-based aircraft manufacturer, Britten-Norman.
The BN2T-4S is the largest variant of the Islander. It achieved type certification with the FAA in late 2022 and has recently achieved validation in New Zealand. The type is also in the process of being validated in India, amongst other countries.
It is powered by twin Rolls Royce Model 250 turboprop engines and benefits from an extended cabin, allowing 1 extra row of seats compared with the standard piston Islander. With its engines offering an impressive 400shp the aircraft has a 22% increase in disposable payload, whilst maintaining impressive short-field performance.
Whilst its new fleet of aircraft is being built at Britten-Norman’s Bembridge facility, which marks a boost to the local economy here on the Isle of Wight, Spirit Air will initially take delivery of 4 fully factory-refurbished BN2T-4S Islanders to enable it to advance its entry into service.
The regional airline will operate a fleet of BN2T-4S Islander aircraft on scheduled passenger services across India providing vital sub-regional connectivity between remote grass airstrips and municipal sub-regional landing strips with the country’s key primary airports.
Mark Shipp, Technical Director and Head of Design at Britten-Norman commented:
“The Islander, both piston and turboprop, has a long-established history of operating successfully across India and the surrounding region. Its durability makes it highly suitable for operating into remote, semi-prepared locations and this sets the Islander apart within this class of aviation.
Article continues below this advertisement “The enhanced capabilities of the BN2T-4S will suit Spirit Air’s requirements perfectly and we are very pleased to be working with them as the first operator of this variant of our great aircraft”.
Capt. S. K. Verma, Managing Partner of Spirit Air remarks:
“We are pleased to partner with Britten-Norman for the order of new BN2T-4S Islander aircraft in the STOL space for our commuter operations from short, grass airfields located in the districts of India. This aircraft has been used by Indian Navy between 1984 and 1999.”
“We have an eternal commitment to connecting places and people together and strive for providing opportunities to create and live where they want. We will help make important resources available, and we will fly our customers safely and efficiently even where the conditions are difficult.”
Good news for the Island so long as they pay up and don’t go bust as some smaller airlines can do in uncertain times.
As I understand it, the new airframes will be manufactured as major subassemblies by Romanian workers temporarily brought to Bembridge for the duration of each of the builds. Then they will be shipped to Lea on Solent to be assembled in to complete airframes. Given that the design work, fitting out and testing will be done on the mainland, I fail to see how that would significantly benefit the IW economy. But of course, the BN press release is carefully worded to give the impression that it does benefit the IW economy without specifically claiming that it does.
Great news. An amazing success story
Flying will be banned by 2030, so why?!
Have they got any staff left to build them?
There all in Cryogenic Suspension, just need thawing out with a hair dryer.
The Islander is not a STOL aircraft.
Most definitions of STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) (including NATO) require the aircraft to take off or land within 1500ft after clearing a 50ft obstacle.
The Islander required almost 2000ft to land.
A fantastic aircraft, but definitely not STOL.
Are they new? I’d persumed that these will be refurbished ex UK MoD aircraft that have been sat outside at Lee on solent for years. They will require substantial work to de role them and return them to a civilian configuration.
It could be said they are new in so much as they are a new type under FAA and a new aircraft type into India???