Charter a Fairchild Dornier Private Jet
Fairchild Dornier was a German-American aircraft manufacturer active between 1996 and 2002, created when the U.S. company Fairchild Aircraft acquired the civil aviation division of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, a historic German brand. The company’s ambition was to modernise regional aviation. Its flagship projects included the Dornier 328, a 30–32 seat turboprop later developed into the 328JET, as well as the larger 728 family of regional jets, which remained unfinished when the company ceased operations in 2002. Although Fairchild Dornier no longer exists, its aircraft continue to operate worldwide in both commercial fleets and in private or executive configurations, with ongoing certification and maintenance support provided today by Deutsche Aircraft.
Fairchild Dornier in Business Aviation
The first aircraft associated with the Fairchild Dornier name was the Dornier 228, a twin-engine turboprop originally developed by Dornier before the merger. Designed mainly as a commuter and utility aircraft, it also found use in special missions and, occasionally, in executive transport thanks to its reliability and rugged performance.
Building on this foundation, Dornier introduced the Dornier 328 in the early 1990s. Later marketed under the Fairchild Dornier brand, the 328 turboprop offered excellent short-runway performance, making it ideal for regional links in Europe and beyond. Its compact size and cabin layout made it attractive to regional airlines, and it was also adopted in limited numbers for private and corporate use.
To meet the growing demand for business aviation, a dedicated Dornier 328 Executive was launched, featuring a refined interior and upgraded passenger amenities. In this VIP configuration, the aircraft typically seats 12–14 passengers, offering more space and comfort than the airline version.
The company’s flagship, however, was the Fairchild Dornier 328JET, introduced in 1998. By fitting the 328’s proven fuselage with turbofan engines, the aircraft gained higher speed and enhanced passenger comfort, positioning it directly in the light jet category. It became the best-known Fairchild Dornier aircraft and continues to operate today in both charter and corporate fleets.
From Fairchild Dornier to Deutsche Aircraft
Although Fairchild Dornier ceased operations in 2002, its aircraft did not disappear. The 328 fleet has been supported ever since by 328 Support Services GmbH, based at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, later acquired by Sierra Nevada Corporation. Holding the official type certificate, this company ensured that operators worldwide continued to receive maintenance, spare parts, and technical support.
In 2020, the organisation was relaunched as Deutsche Aircraft, which not only continues to back the existing fleet but is also developing the D328eco, a modernised and more sustainable update of the original design.
For charter clients, this continuity means that the Dornier 328 and 328JET remain fully certified, maintained, and reliable in charter service, despite the manufacturer’s closure more than two decades ago.
