Aircraft Fleet

D38 = Fairchild Dornier 328-100
MSN = Manufacturers Serial Number

In Brief - Basic Aircraft Data - Dornier 328

Max Cruising Altitude: 31,000 feet
Max Cruising Speed: 335 Knots
Max Range: 1,800 Nautical Miles              
Max Take-Off Weight: 13,990 Kg    
Passenger Capacity: 31 (Variable Business/Economy Cabins)
Seat Pitch: 31 inches
Crew: 2 Pilots + 1 or 2 Cabin Crew

The Fairchild - Dornier 328-100 'A Pilot's View'

The latest turbo-propeller aircraft from the famous Dornier manufacturer is the Fairchild - Dornier 328. It is a derivative from the older Dornier 228 but is such a quantum leap in technology as to be almost unrecognisable. The main advantages of the aircraft from a pilot's point of view are its performance and the 'glass cockpit' normally associated with larger aircraft such as the Airbus.

The 328 has exceptional take-off and landing performance allowing it to operate safely from relatively short runways such as London City and Dundee. This performance is derived from the combination of a jet engine powering a relatively large propeller.The propeller is more efficient than a straight jet and actually improves our short-field capabilities. Once airborne, its combination of power and efficient wing give the aircraft a cruise speed in the order of 350 miles per hour and a maximum altitude of 31,000 feet.

This permits us to climb above most of the weather systems that affect our area and so allows for a smooth flight. The 'glass cockpit' mentioned earlier, refers to the array of Video Display Units that provide the pilot with all the information required to operate the aircraft.

Each pilot has a Primary Flying Display (PFD) which combines all the older generation of instruments on one display. It includes information on the aircraft's attitude, heading, speed, height and rate of climb/descent. Each pilot also has a MultiFunction display unit (MFD). This is normally used in the navigation mode but, as its name suggests, can also be used for a variety of functions. These include checking the different aircraft systems and displaying the weather radar. The fifth central display unit is called the Engine Information and Crew Alerting System (EICAS). It displays the relevant engine information and is used to inform the pilot of any system malfunctions that might occur.

The Dornier carries the normal range of navigation instruments but also has a Flight Management System (FMS), which is a computer based navigation system. This allows accurate and simple navigation improving the crews capability to deviate around bad weather systems and take full advantage of any short-cuts or direct routes offered by Air Traffic Control.

For new pilots learning to fly the Dornier 328, it is quite straight forward once they have got to grips with the computer displays and technology.

Overall, the Dornier is a delight to fly - its combination of technology; power and performance make it a favourite with all its pilots. It is still a relatively new aircraft and there isn't another aircraft that can be considered a serious contender to it in the same size category.