DRA, the German OEM that launched late last year with the goal of bringing the Dornier 328 back into production, and sister company 328 Support Services, have appointed Martin Nüsseler as the company's chief technology officer. Leveraging his significant aviation industry experience, Nüsseler will be responsible for product strategy, the technology road map and oversight of the engineering development team.

“We are delighted to welcome Martin to the technology team and to the company's exceptional opportunity to revolutionise aviation with its focus on affordable sustainability,” says Dave Jackson, managing director of DRA.

Nüsseler joins after 17 years with Airbus, the last five of which were spent leading the Airbus alternative propulsion systems and technologies unit. Nüsseler worked for Fairchild Dornier in the late 1990s.

The engineering development team's primary focus is enhancing the D328 platform and delivering its future technology roadmap. The technical mission for the aircraft is based on a clear commitment for more sustainable aviation with significant positive impacts on short range regional transportation, versus today's standard technologies.

The company has developed a product strategy centred around this vision for the newly designated D328eco. The D328eco delivers significant improvements in operational and maintenance costs, as well as substantial reductions in overall carbon footprint.

The programme, currently in the PDR phase, is focused on the trades and maturity of new systems and materials required to support the aircraft specification. Entry into service date remains in 2024, as announced last year in Leipzig.

The regional aircraft programme continues to be led out of Oberpfaffenhofen airport near Munich, and planning work has commenced on the establishment of the final assembly line at Leipzig Halle airport.