The 40-year-old Do228 has been rebuilt with a digital cockpit, in-house wing production and a launch customer already signed for 2027.
A modern take on an old classic, theDo228 NXTis the first update of the versatile twin-turboprop aircraft in four decades. The aircraft is known for its reliable performance and short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities.
Built by General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS)and designed for special missions as well as passenger and cargo flights, the Do228, which was officially rolled out in June, excels in challenging environments. Speaking to Aerospace Global News during the Farnborough International Airshow last week, Martina Hierle, Programme Manager at GA-ATS, gave an update on what to expect. “It’s a new plane, but the base itself is an old, proven aircraft.”
She explained that while the Do228, which can transport up to 19 passengers, has been flying for more than 40 years, it is now being brought into “a new future.”
The Do228 NXT features new avionics and a new supply chain
The NXT features a renewed supply chain, modern avionics, and a cockpit fitted with four Universal Avionics flat-panel displays, a digital autopilot, and a flight management system capable of supporting a satellite-based communications link.
One of the key elements, said Hierle, is the increase in the in-house production of components. “For example, we manufactured the wing and also flight controls in our own production facility in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich.”
Production will ramp up incrementally as the new line matures. GA-ATS plans to begin at a rate of three aircraft per year, then move to five and eventually up to ten.
From paratroopers to patrol duty
Alongside civil customers, the Do228 NXT is also designed to serve the cargo market and special missions. Its role spans paratrooper transport and deployment, medical evacuation, reconnaissance and environmental monitoring, border and maritime patrol, and freight transportation. The breadth of capability, said Hierle, stems from the aircraft’s versatile equipment options.
Sleeker, more contemporary interior design
Inside, the NXT hasn’t changed drastically from the original platform. The most notable change customers will see, explains Hierle, is the interior layout. “The classic version was typical of the 70s and 80s with a brown-yellowish colour scheme. Now it’s sleeker with a grey-and-black palette. So it’s more in line with what customers might expect from a business jet.”
Passengers will also notice a new lighting system with dimmable LEDs. “We’ve incorporated new electric air conditioning systems. We changed the altitude reference system AHRS, the air data computer and the internal wiring of the intercom system to improve performance. But there are additional improvements we want to make.”
An aircraft that is well suited to special missions
Asked where GA-ATS positions the Do228 NXT against its competitors, Hierle points to its flexibility for special missions. “The envelope is big – you can fly slow or fast depending on the mission. Also, with the retractable gear, you can install 360 radars, and you don’t have the wheels in view. For special missions it’s really a very good platform,” she said.
The aircraft has also proven itself in extreme conditions, she added, operating in both Arctic and tropical environments. One of its standout features is the DO228’s ability to land on runways as short as 500m.
Do228 NXT launch customer secured
GA-ATS has already signed a contract with its launch customer, an undisclosed humanitarian organisation, with delivery slated for early 2027.
Get all the latest air transport news here from AGN.Get all the latest air transport news here from AGN.
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Air TransportFarnborough International AirshowInnovation & TechnologyDo228 NXTDornierFarnborough International Airshow 2026GA-ATStwin turboprop
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