Portsmouth-based Britten-Norman (www.britten-norman.com), the soleindependent commercial-aircraft manufacturer in the UK, has two new BN2B-26 Islander aircraft on its production line for the Falkland Islands Government Aviation Service (FIGAS).

They will expand the service’s fleet to a total of six Islanders. The fleet’s passenger numbers have risen from 5,800 in 2011/12 to 8,800 in 2017/18 — a trend that FIGAS expects to continue in the future.

The first of the two new aircraft will be delivered this summer, with the second scheduled for early 2020.

Both Islanders will be equipped with the Gamin G600TXi avionics suite, the System 55X Autopilot and Spidertracks.

Britten-Norman’s engineers will deliver Garmin avionics training in the Falklands upon delivery of the first aircraft.

Grahame Stone, aircraft commercial head, said: “Britten-Norman has long been a part of the Falkland Islands community, supporting both visitors and the local community, which relies on FIGAS every day, and we are delighted to support the service’s increased operations through the delivery of two new Islanders.”

FIGAS has operated Islanders since October 1979; it has gradually evolved from air ambulance and mail duties in 1948 to passenger and freight services, plus fishery patrol and scenic flights.

The Islander is well suited to hopping between the 30 different airfields located in the Falkland Islands.