The 68-seat British Aerospace ATP (Advanced Turbo-Prop Aircraft) became the mainstay of Manx Airlines fleet , with, at one time, no fewer than sixteen of the type in service. Manx was the largest operator of the passenger version of the aircraft, as well as by far the world’s largest and most experienced maintenance facility. Links with the Isle of Man over the years are very strong, and it was a sad day to see one of the two ATP’s recently taken out of service by West Atlantic, the Swedish cargo airline, being cut up for scrap on the airport perimeter.

With the realisation that there might soon be no aircraft of this type still flying, and almost certainly no examples preserved for posterity, many of the former Manx Airlines’ staff have reacted, and with the support of the Manx Aviation Preservation Society, operators of the Manx Aviation & Military Museum at Ronaldsway; of West Atlantic, who have generously gifted the aircraft to us through the good offices of West Atlantic Aviation Maintenance (WAM) who maintain the ATP fleet; and of the Airport itself, it appears that the second aircraft has been saved from the scrapyard, with the formation of the ‘ATP Preservation Project’.

The Project envisages the aircraft being externally restored to its former condition over the coming months by the voluntary efforts of a large number of staff and with donations in cash or kind from a variety of different sources. It will then be placed on permanent loan to the Museum, and positioned , in full Manx Airlines livery, close to the Museum’s premises on the Airport. The plan also is to use the aircraft as a training aid for WAM Engineering trainees seeking their NVQ Level 3 City & Guilds qualification on courses scheduled to start in September of this year , so it will become a valuable educational resource as well as an outstanding addition to the Museum.