Shorts 360

Shorts 360
Biggerben · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Shorts 360
Caption	A Shorts 360 in regional airline livery
Type	Regional airliner
Manufacturer	Short Brothers
First flight	1981
Introduced	1983
Status	Out of production
Primary users	Regional airlines, cargo operators
Produced	1981–1991
Number built	165

Shorts 360 is a British twin-engined turboprop regional airliner and commuter aircraft developed and produced by Short Brothers of Northern Ireland. Derived from the earlier Short 330 and continuing the lineage of Shorts high-capacity, short-haul designs, it served airlines, cargo carriers, and military operators worldwide during the 1980s and 1990s. The type is noted for its boxy fuselage, fixed landing gear, and emphasis on low-cost operation for short routes.

Description

The Shorts 360 emerged from a family of utility transports that traces influences to designs accepted by British European Airways, Ansett, Aer Lingus, and other regional carriers. Its fuselage retained the square-section cross-section used on the Short Skyvan and Short 330, providing abundant internal volume for up to 36 passengers in high-density layouts while maintaining commonality for operators like Airlines of NSW and Regional Express. The airframe combined aluminium alloy construction with large rectangular windows reminiscent of earlier Shorts types ordered by Eastern Provincial Airways and Mohawk Airlines. Powerplants were mounted on shoulder-mounted wings similar to those on contemporaries such as the Dash 8 and Fokker F27, though the Shorts approach favored rugged simplicity for operations into austere fields used by carriers like Hawaiian Airlines and Airlink.

Design and Performance

The 360's design emphasized low-speed handling, short-field performance, and low direct operating costs. Twin turboprop engines, typically Allison 501-D13 variants, powered the aircraft, offering robustness compared with engines found on types like the Embraer EMB 110 and Handley Page Jetstream. Fixed, trousered landing gear reduced mechanical complexity compared with retractable arrangements seen on the Saab 340 or ATR 42, trading aerodynamic drag for maintenance reliability favored by operators including FedEx Express and UPS Airlines. Cruise speeds were modest relative to larger regional types, comparable to types flown by Piedmont Airlines and Horizon Air, while short takeoff and landing capabilities made the 360 suitable for routes served by British Airways Regional affiliates and bush operators like Air North (Canada). Load-carrying capacity and rugged landing characteristics also attracted special-mission adaptations paralleling conversions made for the CASA CN-212 and Dornier Do 228.

Operational History

Entering service in the early 1980s, the model saw use across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Prominent regional and commuter airlines such as British Airways, Scandinavian Airlines System, United Airlines affiliates, and Trans Australia Airlines evaluated or operated the type on short-haul networks. Cargo conversions became common for logistics operators including Northern Air Cargo and express integrators akin to DHL Aviation. Military and government service included VIP and utility roles for organizations like the Royal Air Force, Irish Air Corps, and civil agencies in nations such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Its operational niche overlapped with contemporaries operated by Ansett Express, Air New Zealand, and Aloha Airlines, while maintenance philosophies mirrored practices from fleets of Short Skyvan and Short 330 aircraft.

Variants

The family spawned several variants addressing passenger, cargo, and combi configurations. Civil passenger models offered seating for up to 36 in high-density layouts, while dedicated freighters and convertible combi versions paralleled conversions seen on the Convair 580 and Britten-Norman Islander. Special-mission adaptations included ambulance, parachute drop, and surveillance fits comparable to roles filled by the Antonov An-26 and Gulfstream G159 conversions. Corporate and VIP internal fittings mirrored bespoke works procured by state operators like Cayman Islands administrations and private companies similar to clients of Lockheed and Beechcraft corporate conversions.

Operators

Commercial operators ranged from regional carriers and commuter airlines to cargo specialists and government fleets. Notable users included European operators such as Aer Lingus Regional and Finnair, North American carriers including Piedmont Airlines affiliates and small US commuter lines, Oceanian operators like Ansett Australia subsidiaries and Air New Zealand regional units, and African operators servicing remote airfields. Military and state operators included the Royal Air Force, Air Forces of Zimbabwe-style services, and other government agencies requiring short-field transports and logistics platforms.

Incidents and Accidents

The type has been involved in a number of incidents during decades of operation, including runway overruns, hard landings, and mechanical failures that attracted investigation by authorities such as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the National Transportation Safety Board. Some high-profile occurrences prompted regulatory scrutiny similar to inquiries involving the De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Short Sandringham operations, leading operators to revise maintenance practices and operational procedures. Despite these events, survivability in forced-landing scenarios, as demonstrated in cases investigated by agencies like the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, underscored the airframe's rugged characteristics.

Category:Short Brothers aircraft