Britten-Norman launches aircraft recovery service
Through GAR, Britten-Norman works with a network of specialist partners to deploy engineering teams for on-site assessment, logistics coordination and actioning repair or ferry solutions.
Britten-Norman has recovered its first Islander as part of its new Global Aircraft Recovery (GAR) service, launched in partnership with specialists including Avitrius Air International.
The first mission saw a stranded BN2A-21 Islander successfully recovered from Saudi Arabia. The team navigated complex airspace restrictions and the challenges of a region experiencing active conflict, before returning the aircraft to Britten-Norman’s MRO facility in the UK.
William Sheppard, executive director at Avitrius Air International said: “This ground-breaking and highly dynamic mission, which lays the ground for Britten-Norman’s exciting GAR programme, was a genuine test of what specialist recovery looks like under pressure. Extracting an aircraft from a region experiencing active, hot conflict introduces a layer of complexity that goes well beyond a standard remote recovery. Permits, routing and airspace approvals are in constant flux, and that demands crews and coordinators who can adapt quickly and keep a mission moving.
“Combining that operational experience with Britten-Norman’s OEM technical knowledge and access to manufacturer parts made a genuinely challenging recovery achievable.”
There are about 280 Islander aircraft operating daily across more than 70 countries. According to the OEM, many are in locations where environmental conditions, logistics, infrastructure and, at times, geopolitical instability make recovery complex. The recovery service is designed to provide operators with a coordinated response when aircraft are grounded.
The service also supports operators considering fleet renewal. Recovered aircraft may be eligible for trade-in against new Islander orders.
Lara Harrison, business development director at Britten-Norman said: “Islanders are chosen because they go where others can’t, and our support needs to match that reality. With this Global Aircraft Recovery service, delivered with specialist industry partners, we can respond quickly when aircraft are grounded in remote locations. As the OEM, we can also help owners take the next step: whether that is refurbishment, remarketing, or a trade-in path that keeps operations moving.”