13 mothballed BN-2A-27 Islanders going cheap in Romanian tender

Published: 10/21/1999

According to reports from Reuters, Bucharest-based commodities exchange Bursa Romana de Marfuri will call an international tender to sell a batch of 13 Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islanders, assembled by Romanian manufacturer Romaero, on 29th October 1999. The tender, for which bids must be submitted by the October 28th, is for the whole package including spare parts, with a starting price of $1.447m. In the event of no bid being accepted, the tender will be restaged on November 5th or 12th. Although the starting price appears low, it seems likely that the aircraft in question come from the Romanian government's civil aviation authority and may be part of a batch of aircraft that have been in storage since 1991. According to reports Britten-Norman (BN) recently inspected the aircraft, but no details have emerged as to their condition. Romaero has assembled over 500 BN airframes since 1969. Earlier this year, BN acquired a 72.9% holding from the Romanian government for $21m and an agreement to invest $59m in the company. The deal has subsequently been challenged as a result of due diligence by BN and is in the process of being arbitrated by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. According to Chief Executive, Paul Barrett, BN remains committed to its four-year investment programme in manufacturing and maintenance facilities at Baneasa Airport and intends to resolve its dispute with the State Ownership Fund 'amicably'. The Romaero plant has recently been announced as the location of manufacture of a proposed new turboprop powered derivative of the BN-2A Mk3 Trislander called Integrity, developed by New Zealand based Integrity Aircraft in which BN is discussing becoming a subcontractor.

Article ID: 990