It was announced in June that production of the Islander would be reshored to the UK for the first time since production moved to Romania in 1968. Britten-Norman has since invested in new jigs and tooling to create two additional production lines at its Bembridge headquarters.
According to the company, plans also include modernising production and decarbonising the site with new sustainable energy initiatives. A ribbon-cutting took place at an event on Thursday 21st September as the new production line at Bembridge was officially opened by Bob Seely, MP for the Isle of Wight.
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"We are immensely proud to bring production back to the UK, where our manufacturing story began nearly seven decades ago,” William Hynett, chief executive of Britten-Norman said in a statement.
“This move underlines our dedication to the highest standards of quality, innovation, and the resurgence of British aerospace manufacturing. We look forward to a bright future as we continue to build world-class aircraft right here in the UK."
Britten-Norman previously attributed its UK return to 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 the 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.
The company said it is planning for new aircraft production to increase fourfold by 2027. Britten-Norman’s return to Bembridge is also expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute to the economic growth of the Isle of Wight and the wider Solent area.
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