Dornier 328 Series

Twin Turboprop· 46 globally registered

The Dornier 328 is a German-built twin-turboprop regional airliner that carved out a niche in the 1990s as one of the fastest turboprops ever certified for passenger service. Developed by Dornier Luftfahrt and first flown in 1991, the 328 was designed to compete with 30-seat jets by offering jet-like cruise speeds, up to 620 km/h (335 knots), while retaining the fuel efficiency and short-field performance of a turboprop. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW119B engines driving six-blade Hartzell propellers, the aircraft could operate from runways as short as 1,100 meters and climb directly to FL310, making it ideal for mountainous terrain and underserved regional routes. What set the 328 apart was its pressurized cabin, stand-up headroom, and relatively quiet interior for a turboprop, features that helped it win orders from regional carriers across North America and Europe. Dornier also developed a jet variant, the 328JET, by replacing the turboprops with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306 turbofans, though the original turboprop remained the more popular configuration. The type earned a reputation for ruggedness and reliability in challenging environments, from the Canadian Rockies to the Swiss Alps. Production ended in 2000 after Fairchild Dornier's financial troubles, with approximately 110 turboprop variants built. Today the 328 remains in service with regional and charter operators, particularly in North America, where its combination of speed, range (1,850 km), and STOL capability continues to make it a workhorse for remote and mountainous routes. The type's military variants (C-146A Wolfhound) serve the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command for airborne ISR and light transport missions. SkyMeter has tracked 77 flights across 16 airframes and 2 operators, with Central Mountain Air Ltd the largest observed operator.