German-based completions and refurbishment company 328 Support GmbH, delivered the final aircraft in a series of three Dornier 328 jet conversions (MSN 3141) to Nigerian charter company SkyBird Air in early April. The Lagos based company, which was a new African customer for 328, accepted the refurbished 32 seat 328 Jet aircraft at 328’s facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The latest delivery completes a contract worth over €14m in total, which saw recently rebranded 328 refurbish three Dornier 328 aircraft into two 32-seat passenger airliner conversions and a VIP configured 328DBJ TM last year. The SkyBird Air fleet now consists of Dornier Jets with serial numbers 3120, 3141 and 3151.
In April 328 was also contracted to deliver a Dornier conversion, to SpringChild Investments, a Lagos based privately owned business. In a first for Dornier 328 conversions, the configuration of MSN 3200 will boast four forward facing business class seats at the front of the aircraft, complemented by a further 23 seats in an economy format in the aft cabin. The four business seats have been engineered to slide away from each other after take-off so improving passenger comfort once the aircraft is in flight. The interior conversion and modifications of MSN 3200 will be completed by 328 at its Oberpfaffenhofen headquarters. SpringChild Investments will have the external paint work on another Dornier 328 (MSN 3221) completed at sister company JETS Bournemouth in the UK demonstrating the integrated offering the restructured 328 Group companies can offer. This aircraft is due to be commenced in late May for delivery in early June 2013.
