First produced by Swearingen as the Merlin IIA in 1966, and later extended to accommodate 22 passengers as the Metro, this prolific line of turboprops ran to just over 1,000 examples. The Metro/Merlin series may now be relatively old, but EBAN readers report that it still has operational attractions especially if upgraded.

Detlef Doebberthin of Regional Air Express whose fleet includes an SA 227 DC Metro 23, two SA 227AC, Metro III and a SA 227AC Merlin IV, expresses satisfaction with maintenance and adds: "We are currently looking to refurbish all with the new five bladed propellers by MT Propeller. This is the most desirable upgrade along with an option to convert lighter versions into the heavy version."

The dispatch reliability, Doebberthin reports, is 98% and the operating capability is satisfactory "especially for the SA 227DC Metro 23 which has a great payload/range and is a real 'workhorse'. The Metro/Merlin is the cheapest aircraft in its class due to the overall cost and we are very satisfied with its value. The best thing is the seat cost and comfort with a combined aisle/window seat for any passenger, as well as the speed and the reliability."

But: "It's hard to get the IATA IOSA certification as a Metro/Merlin operator. The cabin is not very tall (1.45m) which some passengers don't like. The best thing is the cheap operating cost and the speed and the worst thing is the cabin noise and the low cabin height. It is a robust and versatile aircraft but it has an infinite list of life-limited components and it could do with modification of the mid-life airframe inspection schedule."

Santiago Zorrilla says Fairchild SA has its own Metro Merlin EASA 145 maintenance operation "and we work very hard."

The company is satisfied with the dispatch reliability and very satisfied with the operating capability. "It is a good aircraft for the job. It is very good for cargo because we can load seven Euro pallets but the worst thing is that it is quite noisy."

Javier Lopez Garcia of Zorex Air Transport says the company is satisfied with maintenance and very satisfied with the dispatch reliability and operating capability. "The Metro III and 23 have the upper hand with increased MGTOW."

The best aspects include specific fuel consumption, acquisition cost and cargo door size. The worst aspects are ageing aircraft concerns and maintenance hours versus operational hours while the most desirable upgrade is a four-blade propeller for Metro 2 and TCAS/AGPWS."

Bruno Sorensen of North Flying A/S says he is very satisfied with the Metro/Merlin's maintenance support, dispatch reliability, operating capability and value.