The British Aerospace Jetstream 41 is a turboprop-powered feederliner and regional airliner, designed by British Aerospace as a stretched version of the Jetstream 31. Intended to compete directly with 30-seat aircraft like the Embraer Brasilia, Dornier 328 and Saab 340, the new design eventually accommodated 29 passengers in a two-by-one arrangement like the Jetstream 31. Trans States Airlines of the US was the biggest operator of Jetstream 41s in the world, with 25 in the fleet.
The Jetstream 41's stretch added 16 feet (4.9 m) to the fuselage, consisting of an 8-foot-3-inch (2.51 m) plug forward of the wing and a 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 m) plug to the rear; the fuselage design was all-new with no commonality with the old fuselage. The wing had increased span and redesigned ailerons and flaps. It was mounted below the fuselage, so the spar did not form a step in the cabin aisle. This also gave more baggage capacity in larger wing-root fairings.
The Allied Signal TPE331-14 engines deliver 1,500 shp (1,120 kW), (later 1,650 shp (1,232 kW)), and are mounted in nacelles with increased ground clearance. The flightdeck is improved with a modern EFIS setup, and a new windscreen arrangement. The J41 was the first turboprop certified to both JAR25 and FAR25 standards.
The J41 flew for the first time on 25 September 1991 and was certified on 23 November 1992 in Europe, and 9 April 1993 in the United States, with the first delivery, to Manx Airlines on 25 November 1992. In January 1996, the J41 became part of the Aero International (Regional) (AI(R)), a marketing consortium consisting of ATR, Aérospatiale (of France), Alenia (of Italy), and British Aerospace. Sales initially were fairly strong, but in May 1997 BAe announced that it was terminating J41 production, with 100 aircraft delivered.
As of January 2025, 20 aircraft remain in active commercial service.
AirJet Exploração Aérea de Carga (2)
Hong Kong Government Flying Service – (2) for search-and-rescue.
Sky High Aviation Services (2)
Trans States Airlines (25) – aircraft operated as American Connection, Delta Connection and Trans World Express providing passenger feed service on behalf of respective major air carrier partners American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Trans World Airlines (TWA).
Atlantic Coast Airlines – aircraft operated as United Express providing passenger feed service on behalf of major air carrier partner United Airlines.
On 7 January 1994, United Express Flight 6291 crashed short of the runway at Port Columbus International Airport, killing five people out of eight passengers and crew.
On 24 September 2009, South African Airlink Flight 8911 crashed in the suburb of Merebank in Durban, South Africa, shortly after takeoff from Durban International Airport. The crew of three and one person on the ground was injured. The captain, Allister Freeman, died as a result of complications from his injuries on 7 October 2009.
On March 26, 2012, EasyFly Flight 8697, a British Aerospace Jetstream 41, presented a hydraulic fluid spill during a flight. The aircraft landed without complications in José María Córdoba International Airport.
On 24 September 2016, A Yeti Airlines flight registration 9N-AIB en route from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa overran the runway while landing at Gautam Buddha Airport. All 29 passengers and the crew of 3 were unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
On April 8, 2019, a British Aerospace Jetstream 41 (registration HI1038) crash landed at Douglas Charles Airport, Commonwealth of Dominica, after a commercial flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. There were no fatalities.
The prototype Jetstream 41 G-JMAC is preserved by the Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group (SAHG) on the former airside apron behind the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel, which was the original terminal building of Liverpool Speke Airport.
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1997-98, Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/97General characteristics
Crew: 3 (2 Pilots + Flight Attendant)