H2 helps Britten-Norman bring production back to UK

The company - best known for its Islander sub-regional propeller aircraft - has been producing its planes in Romania for over 50 years, with final customer preparation taking place in the UK. Now, Britten-Norman will repatriate some of this production, investing in new jigs and tooling to create two additional production lines at its Bembridge headquarters on the Isle of Wight. According to the company, the plans also include modernising production and decarbonising the site with new sustainable energy initiatives.

Britten-Norman attributes the move with increased interest in the Islander following the announcement of a zero emissions variant, set to hit the market in 2026. Under development in partnership with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS), the aircraft will see the merger of the two entities, with combined entity incorporating seven sites in London, Cranfield, Gosport, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Miami and Malta, employing around 220 people. By combining CAeS’s development of a hydrogen-electric fuel cell propulsion system with existing Britten-Norman aircraft technology, the partners believe ‘a clear and unambiguous route to market’ has been created with certification for passenger services planned for 2026.