Dornier 328

The Dornier 328 is a turboprop-powered commuter airliner. Initially produced by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, the firm was acquired in 1996 by Fairchild Aircraft. The resulting firm, named Fairchild-Dornier, manufactured the 328 family in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, conducted sales from San Antonio, Texas, United States, and supported the product line from both locations.

Dornier 328

Excellent Air Do 328-100
Role	Airliner
Manufacturer	Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier
First flight	6 December 1991
Introduction	1993
Status	Active service not in production
Primary users	Cirrus Airlines Air Alps Sun Air of Scandinavia SATENA
Produced	1991-2000
Number built	217
Developed into	Fairchild Dornier 328JET

Design and development

The 328 (or Do 328) program was initially begun while Dornier was still owned by Deutsche Aerospace. The basic 328 first flew on 6 December 1991, and entered commercial service in October 1993. The 328's new fuselage allowed for comfortable 3-abreast seating, with the potential for a 4-abreast configuration. Combined with the supercritical wing developed from Dornier's Do 228, this gave the 328 excellent cruise and climb capabilities. However, the 328 entered a market crowded with other competing turboprop aircraft at the time, as well as increasing competition from new regional jets in the early 1990s.

In 2005, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) awarded a contract to AeroRescue for long-range Search and Rescue (SAR) capability around Australia. Five 328-100s were progressively commissioned from April 2006 to February 2007 and stationed around the Australian coastline to provide a 24 hour, 30 minute response capability. The aircraft were equipped with a comprehensive electronic sensor suite by Aerodata AG in Germany including; Israel Aerospace Industries ELTA EL/M 2022A Radar, FSI Star SAFire III Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR), Direction Finder and an ARGON ST Infra Red/Ultra Violet scanner. The aircraft are also fitted with an Aeronautical Engineers Australia despatch system, allowing rescue stores to be dropped from the aircraft through a chute through the underwing emergency exit. These are progressively being upgraded with an in-flight opening cargo door to allow despatch of larger items, up to 20 man life rafts and boat dewatering pumps for open water rescues.

328 Support Services GmbH has held the type certificate for this aircraft since June 2006.

Variants

An AeroRescue Dornier 328-100 operated for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority

International Airport

328-100 - Initial 328.
328-110 - Standard 328 with greater range and weights
328-120 - 328 with improved STOL performance.
328-130 - 328 with progressive rudder authority reduction at higher airspeeds.
328JET - Turbofan-powered variant, formerly the 328-300.
C-146A - Designation of 328s operated by the United States Air Force's Air Force Special Operations Command.

Operators

In August 2010 a total of 166 remain in operation with 67 Dornier 328-100 aircraft in airline service. Major operators include: Loganair (6), Satena (6), and South East Asian Airlines (5), Vision Airlines (4), Sky Work Airlines (5), Central Mountain Air (2), Inter Island Airways (1). 9 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.