Texas-based Comtran International is at Farnborough for the first time with its Dornier 328 Jet ‘Revolution’ retrofit.
The company has converted the 32-passenger commuter shuttle into a 12-passenger VIP variant. The P&W 306-B-powered jet in the static display is a customer aircraft that was delivered six weeks ago to a Romanian client who prefers to remain anonymous.
Comtran’s president Jordan Jaffe says: “The customer has allowed us to use the aircraft as a demonstrator for our Farnborough debut.” Comtran has sold three of the type. In addition to the European version on the static, one has gone to a US buyer and the third to a Latin American customer.
The 328 is a popular workhorse and German firm 328 Support Services recently announced that it has secured a VIP conversion contract with Cirrus Group, parent of Cirrus Airlines. However, Jaffe says that there is no competition between the two outfitters. He says: “We work with 328 Support Services. They can add long range tanks and have spares.”
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Comtran’s 12-passenger, four-crew design features a full forward galley, a large walk-in lavatory and a three-DVD in-flight entertainment suite, based on the Honeywell jet Map II system. The version at the show also has AirCell Axxess installed.
Comtran outfitted this aircraft in-house on spec and it has cream seats, carpet and overheads, with dark wood credenza and doors. The cockpit features the Primus 2000 avionics suite and according to Jaffe the scheme has proved popular with customers already.
So far Comtran has acquired 16 aircraft, - six jets and six turboprops, but is only converting the jets at the moment, as that is where it has seen most market demand. In June the company was awarded multiple supplemental type certificates to work on the 328 and is able to retrofit both the jet and turboprop variants.
So far no customers have opted for the tanks, which bring the range from 1,200nm up to 2,000nm. Potential customers can get an aircraft quickly. Anyone placing an order today could have their jet in October. “We see this aircraft as best suited to the European market,” says Jaffe.
Source: Flight International
