Xen Aviation & Services Limited has announced that its newly acquired Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander aircraft has landed at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, and is now ready to be deployed into service.
The arrival marks a major milestone for Xen Aviation, a Guyanese aviation company headed by Mr Ronaldo Alphonso, as it continues to expand its operations and strengthen its capacity to support domestic and regional air connectivity.
Mr Alphonso said the acquisition of the aircraft represents a significant step forward for the company and the services it is now positioned to provide.
“This new aircraft significantly expands the services and capabilities of Xen Aviation,” Mr Alphonso said. “As a company, we are currently expanding, and we remain committed to continuing to offer more services to the Guyanese community. The arrival of this aircraft gives us greater capacity, flexibility and reach as we prepare to serve more communities and customers across Guyana.”
The BN2T-4S Islander is an enlarged turboprop variant of the renowned Islander aircraft and is the first of its kind to be operated in Guyana. It offers approximately 30 per cent more interior space than the piston-engine Islander and has a significantly increased maximum take-off weight of up to 8,925 lbs (4,048 kg).
Powered by twin Rolls-Royce 250 B17F engines, each generating 460 horsepower and flat-rated at 400 horsepower, the BN2T-4S offers a range of up to 1,006 nautical miles (1,863 km), with an endurance of up to eight hours. The aircraft also retains the Islander’s well-known ability to operate in challenging conditions, including short and unprepared landing strips, making it well suited for Guyana’s geography and hinterland aviation needs.
The aircraft is configured with a maximum of 12 seats and is certified under its UK Type Certificate to carry up to 10 passengers with either single or dual crew, subject to local operator regulations. It is also capable of being fully IFR-certified and is equipped as standard with a Garmin glass cockpit based on the G600 TXi series. The Garmin avionics suite includes full electronic engine instrumentation across Islander variants, providing valuable operational and engineering data to support safer, more efficient operations.
Britten-Norman recently secured Type Acceptance for the BN2T-4S from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority in preparation for the aircraft’s delivery. The aircraft is already type-certified in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States and several other jurisdictions.
The BN2T-4S is also part of Britten-Norman’s ongoing development programme, including its “Green Futures” initiative, with the aircraft expected to have the option of operating using sustainable aviation fuel in future.
Mr Alphonso said the aircraft is well matched to Xen Aviation’s long-term vision for domestic aviation.
“We believe this variant of the Islander is a perfect fit for our mission to introduce superior safety, comfort and choice to the Guyana aviation market,” he said. “It will allow us to better serve everyday commuters, government agencies, international business operators and other customers who require reliable air services at a competitive price.”
William Hynett, Chief Executive of Britten-Norman, welcomed the milestone and noted the significance of the aircraft’s deployment in Guyana.
“We are delighted to confirm this order with Xen Aviation & Services Inc., marking a significant milestone as the first BN2T-4S Islander to be used for commuter services in Guyana,” Mr Hynett said. “The BN2T-4S is the largest and most powerful variant in the Islander range, offering exceptional load-carrying capacity while maintaining our well-renowned STOL performance. I am excited to see this aircraft thrive in its new role with Xen Aviation, providing essential services to the people of Guyana.”
The arrival of the aircraft at Ogle positions Xen Aviation to begin deploying the BN2T-4S into service as part of its wider expansion plans and its commitment to improving aviation access, connectivity and service options in Guyana. (Xen Aviation release)
