Dornier 328-110 N335LS (sn 3035) Cirrus Airlines Photo taken April 07, 2009 Calgary Airport, AB Canada (YYC / CYYC) Photo © AirplaneMart.com

Dornier 328-110 OE-LKE (sn 3063) Air Alps Photo taken November 07, 2003 Bern Belp Airport, Switzerland (BRN) Photo © Marcel Siegenthaler

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.

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 1990's.

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 shute 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.

Variants

Dornier 328-100 - Initial 328.
Dornier 328-110 - Standard 328 with greater range and weights
Dornier 328-120 - 328 with improved STOL performance.
Dornier 328-130 - 328 with progressive rudder authority reduction at higher airspeeds.
Dornier 328JET - Turbofan-powered variant, formerly the 328-300.

Operators

In January 2008 a total of 80 Dornier 328-100 aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include: Hainan Airlines (29), Cirrus Airlines (10), Air Alps (7), Sun Air of Scandinavia (7),SATENA-FAC (6), ScotAirways (7), and South East Asian Airlines (4), Central Mountain Air (2). 24 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.

Australia - Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Specifications (Dornier 328-110)

General characteristics
Crew: Three (2 Pilots, 1 Flight Attendant)
Capacity: 30 to 33 (14 in First Class Config)passengers
Length: 21.11 m (69 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 20.98 m (68 ft 10 in)
Height: 7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 40 m² (431 ft²)
Empty weight: 8,920 kg (19,670 lb)
Useful load: 3,450 kg (7,606 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 13,990 kg (30,840 lb)

Performance
Maximum speed: 620 km/h (335 knots, 385 mph)
Range: 1,850 km (1,000 nm, 1,150 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,455 m (31,020 ft)