Britten-Norman offers unleaded fuel mod for Islander piston twins

Piston versions of the Islander are powered by Lycoming O-540 engines for which the manufacturer approved three unleaded fuel specifications: ASTM D7547, DEF-STAN, and HJELMCO. Britten-Norman said Islander operators who make the switch to unleaded fuel can reduce their environmental footprint while cutting refueling and maintenance costs and expanding their fuel options.

“Britten-Norman is committed to delivering a sustainable future for aviation through our Green Futures initiative,” said Mark Shipp, the company’s technical director and head of design. “This development is an important milestone for the hundreds of Islander operators who will be able to reduce their emissions through the introduction of unleaded fuels.”

Britten-Norman has been building the Islander for nearly 60 years and said it has turned out 1,300 of the type to date. The aircraft are known for ruggedness and short short-field performance, and often operate in remote, underserved areas and on short routes between smaller airports. The aircraft currently serve customers in more than 100 countries on six continents.

The Islander is available with 260 260-hp and 300 300-horsepower piston engines or turboprops with 320 horsepower or 400 horsepower. A piston version made a dramatic, memorable appearance in the 2015 James Bond film “Spectre,” in which the super spy takes the controls to thwart a criminal plot.