The Do228 is a European aircraft. It was developed in Germany in the late 1970s. Shortly afterwards, the first test flights took place in southern Germany and the first Do228 was delivered to a customer in Europe: the Norwegian airline Norving. The new Do228 NXT is also built in Germany, and relies almost exclusively on a German and European supply chain.
But the aircraft not only originates from Europe, it is also optimally designed for operations in Europe. In this continent, the Do228 can be used for a wide variety of missions – from passenger transport to maritime patrol.
A perfect match to Europe's versatile climate
Europe is one of the smaller continents, but with its varied geography, it is still a very interesting area for the aviation sector, with the most diverse climatic and geographical conditions and, therefore, also the different demands on aircraft.
While the climate in Northern Europe is cold and the Do228 fleet of Lufttransport has to land on Svalbard even in icy and snowy conditions, in other regions, the aircraft have to withstand strong winds or heavy rainfall. The robust and weatherproof construction of the Do228 is designed to handle a wide range of conditions and still perform efficiently. Of course, the Do228 is also equipped with a modern weather radar, which is part of its standard equipment.
Do228 Service center in Europe
General Atomics AeroTec Systems, the OEM of the Do228, is located at the special airport Oberpfaffenhofen in southern Germany. This is an almost central location on the continent and therefore a perfect service location for Do228 customers throughout Europe. Here the company offers extensive modernisation, upgrades and MRO services for the Do228 according to customer requirements. It also operates a state-of-the-art Do228 flight simulator, which is used for pilot training.
Layout versatility
The Do228 has a wide variety of cabin layouts, which can also be converted relatively easily. This versatility is particularly noticeable and in demand in Europe.
There are Do228 operators with many different cabin layouts in Europe. While the Italian Army's Do228 is used for paratrooper jumps and therefore has a paratrooper layout with 22 seats, a jumpmaster seat and an anchor line, on the other hand, Aurigney Air Services flies a Do228 with a 19-seat layout for passenger transport to the British Channel Islands. The German Maritime Emergencies Command uses a Do228 with operator consoles and many sensors for reconnaissance flights in the North and Baltic Seas to identify water pollution, for example from oil spills.
Designed to meet the diverse demands in Europe, the Do228 is a modern and versatile aircraft and impresses on every mission.
