The flight connection to the only German offshore island, Heligoland, will be significantly modernized in the future. The East Frisian airline Ostfriesischer Flugdienst (OFD) has announced that it will be updating its fleet for scheduled flights between the mainland and the island.
The OFD is now using Tecnam aircraft to replace the existing Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. This change is necessary because the old aircraft are getting old and it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain spare parts. The introduction of the new aircraft marks an important step in the modernization of the fleet, which plays a central role in connecting Heligoland with the mainland.
The move from Islander to Tecnam
The Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, which have been used to date for traffic to and from Heligoland, are characterized by their robustness. They are particularly suitable for frequent take-offs and landings, which makes them ideal for island air traffic. The Islander offers reliable performance even in difficult weather conditions, which are not uncommon in the North Sea. The aircraft have a capacity of around eight passengers and have been used for many years for air traffic between the mainland and the North Sea islands.
However, there have been repeated problems with the availability of spare parts in recent years. Since 2014, the manufacturer Britten-Norman has had increasing difficulties in supplying the required parts. In the meantime, the OFD had procured used machines from New Zealand, but this solution was not able to permanently resolve the bottlenecks. In order to ensure long-term operations, the OFD has now decided to switch to a new aircraft model: Tecnam aircraft from the Italian manufacturer Tecnam will take over the island connection from now on.
The Tecnam P2006T MarkII, a twin-engine light aircraft, will in future ensure the connection between the mainland and Heligoland. The new aircraft have a capacity of up to three passengers and are therefore significantly smaller than the previous Islander aircraft. Although this leads to a reduction in the number of passengers, the OFD's increased flight frequency should still enable more flexible planning for customers. The new Tecnam aircraft are not only faster, but also quieter, which should lead to a further improvement in the travel experience.
Benefits for passengers and islanders
For the islanders of Heligoland and the island's guests, the use of the new aircraft means a significant time saving compared to the ship journey. The flight time is only around 20 minutes, while the trip by catamaran from Cuxhaven takes around 75 minutes. This is a significant advantage, especially for day trippers or business travelers, as the new aircraft enable a faster and more flexible connection to the mainland.
The planned increase in flight frequencies with the new aircraft offers passengers additional benefits. Even if the passenger capacity per flight is reduced, the new frequency will mean that demand can be met better. According to a spokeswoman for the OFD, the connection to Heligoland is an important and highly sought-after route that is of great importance to islanders and guests alike.
challenges and investments
The decision to use the Tecnam aircraft was not without challenges. The OFD not only had to switch to a completely new aircraft model, but also had to invest in the corresponding training and test flights for the pilots. The pilots have already successfully completed their test and training flights, and the company is only waiting for the final approval from the Federal Aviation Office, which is expected to be received by the end of March 2025. After that, the new aircraft can be used regularly in scheduled services.
The OFD has not yet provided any information on the exact amount of the investment, but the purchase and conversion of the fleet represent a considerable financial burden. However, the airline assumes that the decision to switch to Tecnam was the right one in the long term in order to continue island traffic on Heligoland reliably and in a future-proof manner.
A look at future developments
Heligoland Airport is an important transport infrastructure for the island and its residents, but also for tourists who want to visit the island. The expansion and modernization of the flight connections are therefore crucial for the further development of the island's traffic. The switch to Tecnam aircraft could also have a signal effect for other airlines that have similar problems with old aircraft models and spare parts supplies.
The introduction of the new aircraft and the planned increase in flight frequency show that OFD wants to meet the requirements of modern air traffic. With the Tecnam aircraft, the airline is opting for a future-proof solution that will make island traffic more efficient and reliable.
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