Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Omani-owned UK aircraft manufacturer Britten Norman has signed leases on two additional hangars at its Solent Airport base, on the south coast of England. Airport owner Fareham Borough Council has recently built several new hangars at the site to expand its business park.

 


The expansion adds 13,000 sq ft and will be used for “a new aircraft final assembly plant,” along with aircraft refurbishment, MRO services, international field servicing, and specialist avionics and mission system integration.

 


Meanwhile, the expansion will allow the company's BN Defence subsidiary to use the existing facilities “to expand output to meet increased demand in the military MRO sector,” said the company, which builds a military version of the Islander called the Defender 4000.

 


A controlling majority interest in Britten-Norman was acquired by Oman’s Zawawi, a family-owned investment group, in 2001.

 


AIN met with Britten-Norman CEO William Hynett earlier this month in London and he outlined the current status of the company and its ambitions. Hynett said his taking the reins of the company in 2003 was to “make it work or close the company,” but with UK government work, some from Pakistan, “a couple of private sales,” and a couple of aircraft for Nepal­—which were gifted by the UK government­­—the firm was able to survive.

 


Then a contract from the UK MoD linked to Iraq “catapulted us into a fleet build and then a midlife update––that kept us really busy until 2010.”

 


Having managed to survive the 2008 financial crisis,&nbsp;the company looked to support Islander operators around the world. Hynett&nbsp;estimates that approximately&nbsp;two-thirds of the 1,300 Islanders built remain in operation.

 


While it is only manufacturing a deliberately conservative total of four new airframes a year (with an order book for a couple of years), upgrading and modifying aircraft has provided a rich seam of work—and the company is actively interested in acquiring aircraft also for upgrading. The new aircraft now have Garmin 600 cockpits as standard, so this is offered as a retrofit.

 


Hynett is confident, mainly because “there is nothing directly comparable [to the Islander] available,” and he didn’t balk at a comparison with ATR and how it has revolutionized the prospects of its 50/70-seat turboprop airliners. Islanders typically seat 10 (or eight in its luxury cabin with club-four seating). The closest aircraft to an Islander is the Twin Otter, and while that aircraft is ideal for 45 to 60-minute flights, Islanders are ideal for 20 to 30-minute hops in passenger service.

 


The company also recently established a base in Malta, mainly for training. “It’s not about Brexit,” said Hynett. “Weather is a factor in terms of training and they’re very easy to work with there. And Armed Force Malta operate our aircraft.”

 


Hynett said he recently ferried an aircraft to the Falkland Islands as part of its fleet upgrade. For a former Fleet Air Arm Harrier pilot, it was still challenging, he told AIN.

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