IATA SH3ICAO SH33

Shorts SD.330

Shorts

TravelerPulse profile

British twin-turboprop commuter airliner with boxy design.

First flight

1974

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

Range

1,100 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45A turboprops

Status

Retired

The Shorts SD.330 is a British regional turboprop developed by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It first flew in 1974 and entered commercial service in 1976, designed to carry 30 passengers on short-haul regional routes. The aircraft features a distinctive rectangular fuselage cross-section derived from the earlier Skyvan utility transport. The SD.330 was aimed at the commuter airline market, offering low operating costs and the ability to operate from small regional airports with limited infrastructure. Its fixed undercarriage and strut-braced wings contributed to its utilitarian appearance but kept maintenance requirements manageable. Production ended in 1992 after approximately 136 aircraft were built. The type saw widespread use among regional and commuter carriers in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. A military variant, the C-23 Sherpa, served with the United States Army as a cargo transport.

Notable operators

Major operators included Air Midwest, Command Airways, Golden West Airlines, and Allegheny Commuter in the United States, as well as British Midland and various other regional carriers.

Notable facts

›Derived from the Shorts Skyvan utility transport, sharing its rectangular fuselage cross-section.
›Approximately 136 aircraft were built between 1974 and 1992.
›A military cargo version, designated C-23 Sherpa, served with the United States Army.
›Features a fixed tricycle undercarriage, keeping maintenance costs low.
›The SD.330 was succeeded by the refined and more powerful Shorts 360.