Britten-Norman has announced fresh investment that will allow the company to accelerate production rates of its Islander utility aircraft and boost its performance in the aftermarket business. The privately-owned UK airframer would not disclose the amount invested by Beechlands Enterprises in its announcement on October 14 but said it is the biggest investment in the company for 30 years and exceeds the targets it had for the now-complete second funding round.
In March, private equity group 4D Capital Partners acquired Britten-Norman for an undisclosed amount and said it would source further investment in the company, which produces the Islander family of turboprop and piston aircraft, including a military variant called the Defender 4000. Last year, Britten-Norman’s management team reopened the company’s production line at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight under a plan to move manufacturing back from Romania, where the Islanders had been built.
According to the company, it will now scale up production rates to eight aircraft per year. Most of this output will be the piston-powered version of the Islander, with a smaller number of turboprop models.
Based in Derry in Northern Ireland, Beechlands Enterprises is primarily engaged in real estate development, as well as leasing construction and civil engineering equipment. Under the terms of the deal, Patrick Cowan, the former deputy chief engineer of Belfast-based aircraft maker Short Brothers, will join the Britten-Norman board.
Britten-Norman’s CEO, William Hynett, said Beechlands’ investment will allow it to complete the transition to building aircraft in the UK, with the first aircraft to come off the revamped production line due to be delivered to the Falkland Islands. “We will also be focusing on our important international aftermarket operations, ensuring our long-term position as the manufacturer of choice for reliable, high-density, low-cost, short-field, sub-regional air transportation,” he commented.
The company said it will seek to improve lead times for spare parts to make these more readily available to operators around the world. This plan will involve both boosting direct supply of parts from the company and improving distribution through selected service representatives.