The British Aerospace Jetstream J31 is a small twin turboprop airliner with a pressurized fuselage, designed to meet the needs of the North American regional airline market. It has a seating capacity of 15 passengers carrying approximately 50 pounds of bags each, and short and gravel field capability. The Jetstream also boasts a cruising speed of 260 knots and a range of approximately 1000 nautical miles. The aircraft has seen particular success in northern Canada, providing essential service links between many far-flung northern communities.

The successful Jetstream 31 traces its ancestry to the Turboméca Astazou powered Handley Page HP-137 Jetstream 1.

The HP-137 was designed as early as 1965, and flew for the first time on August 18, 1967. Initial Handley Page production aircraft were powered by 635kW (850hp) Astazou XIVs and named Jetstream 1 (36 built), but deliveries were delayed by excess weight and drag problems. To overcome these problems Handley Page developed the Jetstream 2 with more powerful 800kW (1073shp) Astazou XIVCs. However, Handley Page ran into serious financial difficulties in the late 1960s (causing the US Air Force to cancel an order for 10 Garrett TPE331 powered C-10A Jetstreams [3Ms]) and folded in 1969, bringing to an end development of the more powerful Jetstream 2 and plans to market a civil version of the 3M in the USA.

A few unfinished aircraft were completed by Terravia, and development of the Jetstream 2 resumed in 1970 as the Jetstream 200 under the control of the newly formed Jetstream Aircraft in collaboration with Scottish Aviation. Scottish Aviation later assumed overall responsibility for the Jetstream and built a number as navigation and multi-engine trainers for Britain's military services as the Jetstream T1 and T2. Development continued after Scottish Aviation was merged into British Aerospace in 1977, and work on the Jetstream 31 (or J31) began in 1978. The first flight of the Garrett TPE331 powered Jetstream 31 (a converted HP-137) occurred on March 28, 1980. The first production aircraft flew in March 1982, and UK certification was granted in June 1982. In the British Naval service the J31 is designated the Jetstream T3.

Subsequent development led to the Super 31, certified in October 1988. The Super 31 (or unofficially J32) features upgraded engines, more useful weight envelopes, and better performance. The last J31/J32 was built in 1993.

Since 1997 British Aerospace Asset Management has been offering for sale or lease the upgraded J32EP (Enhanced Performance). Its minor aerodynamic and drag improvements enhance payload, range, and hot and high performance.

Our Jetstream 31s provide fast and convenient passenger transportation between Alberta's population and industrial centres, offering reasonable prices thanks to their efficient Garrett turbines and aerodynamic design.

Air Mikisew owns two J31s; C-FKAM is luxuriously appointed and offers three-times-daily business class scheduled service to Edmonton's City Centre Airport, and C-FUAM remains in stock condition to better suit the unique needs of scheduled summer service to the remote community of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta.

All BAe Jetstream general information courtesy of Airliners.net