Britten-Norman has reached a tentative $9.75 million agreement with the Falkland Islands government to deliver four new BN2B-26 Islander aircraft.
The agreement, announced on November 7, 2024, confirms that the Falkland Islands government is planning to further modernize its existing fleet of Islander planes and believes that the BN2B-26 would best serve its needs in what is an extremely demanding environment.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) specified that the new aircraft would join the Falkland Islands Government Aviation Service (FIGAS), which has been operating in the region for 75 years and is already served by five Islanders.
The order comes in addition to two aircraft that FIGAS has already contracted Britten-Norman to build, the first of which is now in service.
Aside from commuting flights, the current fleet’s missions include air ambulance, postal carrier, freight, veterinary transport, environmental monitoring and increasingly popular scenic flights.
William Hynett, CEO at Britten-Norman, said: “We are so pleased to have such an incredible opportunity to build a new chapter in our long-standing relationship with the Falkland Islands Government and to continue to support the communities of these important islands.”
Hynett added: “As one of our most valued long-term partners, we rely on crucial feedback from FIGAS and work hard to use this knowledge to further refine our products and services.”
The BN2B-26 Islander is one of Britten-Norman’s rugged piston powered aircraft variants. It is particularly popular on the Falklands due to its Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) capabilities.
Britten-Norman said: “The long-term durability of the aircraft type has been proven beyond doubt over the six decades that FIGAS has operated its fleet of Islanders. The decision to select new Islanders as a replacement for FIGAS’s existing, older Islander fleet is in part down to an assessment by the team as to what aircraft best suits the tough operating conditions in the Falkland Islands, where durability and reliability are key factors in the operator’s long-term success.”