Paris: New Turkish venture targets African regional carriers

 Plans for regional aircraft development and production in Turkey were laid out by 328 Group at the Paris Air Show and announcements included the likely selection of engine suppliers and the first tentative order for 50 jets. 

Originally disclosed in late May, the new programmes – the 32-seat turboprop T328 and the TRJ328 jet– are based, respectively, on the existing Dornier 328 turboprop and jet aircraft, for which 328 Group holds the intellectual property. Delivery of the first modernised examples of the legacy types is due in 2018.
One of two further clean-sheet, 50-70-seat designs – the jet-powered TRJ628 and TR628 turboprop – is scheduled to perform its first flight in 2023. The six-series could feature geared turbofan engines – in a similar thrust class to the 15,000lb-thrust (67kN) PW1200Gs powering the Mitsubishi Regional Jet – for the TRJ628, and PW127s for the turboprop.
The development of TRJet follows a memorandum of understanding signed by 328’s parent Sierra Nevada (SNC) and the Turkish government, alongside local manufacturing partner Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret (STM).
328 Group managing director Dave Jackson said at the show that talks had been carried out with Pratt & Whitney Canada to supply its 2,500shp (1,860kW)-class PW127 turboprop and the latest variant of its PW306B engines for the two updated aircraft. The new turboprop powerplants raise maximum take-off weight by 1.5t to 15.6t.
The latter six-series models will feature an all-new, part-composite fuselage and wing, with the engines the only difference between them. 
“We believe that the combination of technology, research, collaboration and decades of experience is the right recipe for TRJet’s future success in Turkey and around the globe,” said SNC president Eren Ozmen. “We are confident that TRJet, working with our partners in Turkey, and the commitment and support of those involved in the Turkish Regional Aircraft Project, will be successful in producing aircraft that changes the face of transportation in Turkey.”
STM elected to bring the manufacturing procramme to Ankara in support of the Turkish Ministry of Transport’s initiative to produce the country’s first regional jet as part of its regional aircraft project and will set up the TRJet facility in the next 18-24 months.
Flightglobal has reported that discussions are also ongoing with avionics suppliers Honeywell and Rockwell Collins over the the addition of a glass cockpit for the types. 
“These changes will future-proof these aircraft for the next 30-40 years,” Jackson said.
As an umbrella company TRJet will combine the legacy of two aviation companies, SNC and 328 Support Services (328 SSG), to create an aviation and aerospace company that merges modern-edge German aircraft engineering and the latest industry modification standards. The Turkish government will capitalise on this technology, and on Dornier’s legacy of innovation dating back to the start of commercial aviation, to support the growth of Turkey’s existing civil aviation industry, as well as to open the country to the global aviation market. 
The 328 is currently certified in 85 countries around the world, and is in use in many countries, including the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, U.K. and Denmark.
Although the market for 50-seat types has dwindled in recent years, Jackson said there are a number of aircraft in the segment that are still in operation – around 5,000 – claiming that as a sign that there is still a requirement for models with that seating capacity.
“All models will be certificated by the FAA and EASA from the outset”, Jackson said predicting orders could be secured for around 250 examples of both types.

328 Group managing director Dave Jackson optimistic about the type's prospects