B-N GROUP, which now claims to be the UK”s only commercial aircraft builder, has appointed William Hynett, previously marketing director, as chief executive. The Group manufactures the Britten-Norman Islander, Trislander and Defender 4000 aircraft. William Hynett is a former Royal Navy pilot with a long association with the Sea Harrier which he has continued to fly in the Royal Naval Reserve. Interest in the Islander regional commuter aircraft has been stimulated by B-N”s announcement last year that the company had committed to the construction of 24 new aircraft, whilst the 18-seat single-pilot Trislander aircraft has caused much interest since the announcement that the production line has been re-opened. The Defender aircraft, which is in use world-wide in a variety of surveillance capacities including maritime surveillance, border patrol, counter-terrorism and urban policing, is currently being evaluated by a number of military, police and security authorities who are keen to benefit from the advantages of operating a low cost, highly flexible airborne surveillance platform in the homeland security role. http://www.britten-norman.co.uk