The role of "The Shed": exploring small cargo operations with the Short 330

The Short 330 was developed in the 1970s by Short Brothers and was initially designed as an airliner before being adopted for small cargo operations. Despite its unique appearance, which earned it the nickname “the Shed,” the Short 330 has proved to be an inexpensive and reliable regional option for airlines.

The Short 330 – A brief overview

The Short 330 was developed in 1976 by Short Brothers, an aerospace company from Belfast. The design was based on the Short Skyvan – an STOL utility aircraft used by a few airlines and the Royal Air Force.

Initial designs focused on creating a cost-effective small airliner. However, two freight versions were also created: the Short 330-UTT (Utility Tactical Transport) and the Short Sherpa, a military freighter with a full- width rear cargo ramp. The latter was adopted by the United States Air Force, which ordered 18 of them in the early 1980s.

The aircraft started with an SD3-30 designation, signifying its seating capacity of thirty passengers. Designers aimed to take advantage of Civil Aviation Board (CAB) deregulation for regional and commuter air services, which stipulated a maximum of thirty passengers and a load limit of seven thousand five hundred pounds.

In total, one hundred thirty-six Short 330s and their variants were built; later models included the bigger and more modern Short