Aviation 10

to 2019 for the services to Campbeltown,

Barra and Tiree [from Glasgow].”

FLEET

Our conversation next turned to

maintenance: “We do heavy checks on the

Islanders ourselves, up in Kirkwall. We

do two a year on each aircraft, which are

carefully planned around daylight hours and

the times of year we need two aircraft to

operate the [Orkney] network.”

However, escalating MRO costs have

been seen on the Saab  eet, particularly

the Saab 2000. “Physically getting spares

is difficult, to the point where a couple of

lessors are even intending to part-out

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 63

In September 2017 Loganair unveiled a

gold-painted Islander to celebrate the 50th

anniversary of the Orkney Islands air service.

Above left: The airline operates three

Dornier 328s.

Left: Loganair’s Islanders operate the

Westray-Papa Westray route, the shortest

scheduled  ight in the world with a block

time of just two minutes.