Aviazur has replaced its ageing Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A piston-engined Islander with a new BN2T turboprop Islander. The New Caledonia-based air-taxi operator required the new aircraft to enable it to operate 460km (250nm) missions with a full payload of nine passengers in a "hot-and-high" environment from short runways. The Islander, one of around 60 BN2Ts in operation worldwide, has already been delivered, and the airline is using a lease package arranged by Paris-based Fipromer, which specialises in financing projects in the French overseas territories.
Source: Flight International
