South America is a key growth market for the aviation industry, and the Do228 NXT is perfectly suited to the continent’s versatile operational demands and requirements. From the high altitude Andes mountains in the west, to the vast rainforests of Brazil and down to Tierra del Fuego, with quite severe weather conditions, a wide range of mission profiles await.
Reaching small airfields in the rainforest
In South America, a significant number of airfields remain unpaved. Brazil, for instance, is one of the countries with the highest number of airports worldwide. Of its more than 4,000 airfields, over 75% lack paved runways. As a result, only a limited number of aircraft are capable of accessing these remote locations — and the Do228 NXT is one of them. Thanks to its robust landing gear and proven performance on rough and unprepared surfaces, the aircraft is ideally suited for such conditions.
Even short runways pose no challenge: the Do228 NXT features outstanding STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capabilities, allowing it to operate safely and efficiently in areas where other aircraft are grounded. This makes it an ideal choice for connecting remote communities, supporting critical logistics, and enabling versatile missions across the continent.
Defying severe weather conditions
As South America is a continent with a long north-south expanse, It covers highly diverse climate zones. In the north, countries like Colombia and Ecuador experience hot, humid conditions with frequent heavy rainfall. In stark contrast, the southern regions — such as Tierra del Fuego — are characterized by cold temperatures, strong winds, and seasonal snowfall.
The Do228 NXT has consistently proven its reliability in these varied and often challenging weather conditions. Whether operating in tropical downpours, high humidity, or icy southern climates, the aircraft demonstrates excellent performance. Its ability to remain stable even in strong crosswinds and turbulent conditions makes it a trusted platform for missions that demand all-weather capability. This ensures a high level of operational availability throughout the year.
Outstanding Performance
The Do228 NXT combines speed, fuel efficiency and climb performance in a class-leading package:
- Cruise: 214 KTAS at just 590 lb/h fuel flow.
- Range: At equal payload, the Do 228 NXT flies the furthest range in its class.
- Hot & High Take-Off: From a 8400 ft altitude field (e.g. Bogota), the Do228 NXT can take off with an unmatched MTOW of 6.1 tons.
Power & Responsiveness
Powered by two 776 SHP Honeywell TPE331-10 engines (flat-rated from 1000 SHP to enhance longevity of the engines), the Do228 NXT delivers exceptional performance with a TBO of 7’000 hours in high utilization.
The single-shaft TPE331 provides instant power response – Go-around acceleration: From 40% to maximum power in 1.5 seconds, offering a critical safety advantage in challenging approach environments and conditions.
Mission- proven in South America
Since its introduction, the Do228 series has been deployed on all continents for a wide range of missions — from passenger transport and cargo logistics to surveillance and humanitarian operations. In South America, several Do228s are already in active service.
For example, the Chilean airline Corpflite operates the aircraft for regional passenger transportation, taking advantage of its reliability and short-field capabilities. The Do228 has also been successfully operated in other countries such as Argentina and Venezuela, where its versatility and performance under demanding geographic and climatic conditions are especially valued. Its proven track record in both civil and governmental missions underscores the Do228’s reputation as a dependable and flexible platform for operators throughout the region.
Layout versatility
The Do228’s flexible cabin layout makes it as versatile as the mission profiles it serves in South America. It can be configured for a wide range of operations — from passenger and cargo transport to medical evacuation flights — and is equally well-suited for special missions such as maritime patrol, border surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring.
Thanks to its spacious rectangular fuselage cross-section, the Do228 offers enhanced interior volume, allowing for easy installation of mission equipment or reconfiguration of the cabin as needed. Rapid conversion between layouts enables operators to adapt the aircraft quickly to changing operational requirements, making the Do228 a truly multi-role platform.
Whether serving a government agency or commercial operator, the Do228 delivers the flexibility and performance needed for efficient multi-mission use across the challenging environments of South America.
