Photo Update

MSN 15 - DHC-6-100 N122PM
Dilkara Leasing (Skydive San Marcos)
Hampton, GA 16-Feb-2013
Roger Botting Photo

Aircraft Movements

617 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBR Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

27-Feb-2013

• Jefferson, GA (19A) - Ft. Lauderdale-Executive (KFXE) - Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (MPBV)

C-GKBR continues on it's delivery flight to Seaborne Airlines today after spending yesterday on the ground in Jefferson, GA.

Malaysia Airlines Series 400 Order

Malaysia Airlines Signs Six Aircraft Deal for Viking Twin Otter Series 400

 

Contract to include Aircraft, Flight, Maintenance Training and Spares

 

Geelong, Australia, February 27^th, 2013:  Viking Air of Victoria, BC, Canada and Malaysia Airlines, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have signed an agreement for six DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft for operation by Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary, MASwings.  MASwings will become the first Malaysian-based operator of the new Viking Twin Otter Series 400, making it the nineteenth country to be added to the expanding global customer list.

 

The six new Series 400 Twin Otters are scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2014, and will be utilized for regional commuter operations based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.  The new aircraft will be added to MASwings’ existing fleet of legacy Twin Otter aircraft, which have a 25 year proven track record for reliability, durability and suitability with MASwings’ theatre of operations in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, the two Malaysian states in Borneo.

 

The Series 400 Twin Otters will be configured with a fully IFR Honeywell Primus Apex digital avionics suite, complete with two primary and one secondary GPS backed navigation system, Flight Management System TAWS, TCAS I, and EGPWS.  With this aircraft purchase, MASwings will be the launch airline for Latitude Technologies SkyNode and IONode, an Iridium satellite communication package with WiFi enabled flight data acquisition, recording and reporting aircraft trend monitoring system.  Also included in the six aircraft purchase agreement are flight and maintenance training, along with a comprehensive spares support package.

 

Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Hj Awang, CEO of MASwings, commented that “as a long time legacy aircraft operator, the Viking Series 400 won us over because of its exceptional performance, great operating economics, and the additional safety features offered by the integrated digital avionics suite.  With the new satellite based navigational facilities fitted onboard, the operational and safety level will be greatly enhanced.”

 

Robert Mauracher, Viking vice president Business Development and general manager Maintenance Repair Organization, commented “Viking is particularly pleased to add Malaysia Airlines and MASwings to the Series 400 operator family.  As our first Flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines has once again confirmed the Viking Series 400 Twin Otter as the best choice for utility regional transport in support of remote communities.”

 

With Twin Otter Series 400 in operation in 14 countries and a backlog exceeding $400M, the Series 400 is now confirmed as the best selling next generation19 passenger aircraft available today.  Viking provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland legacy aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7) and forms part of Westerkirk Capital Inc, a Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality, aviation, and real estate sectors.

 

Photo Update

With the usual thanks to Tim Martin, an excellent photo of MSN 873 which arrived as such from the Spokane paint shop on 23-Feb-2013.

It is expected to be picked up by Fuerza Aerea del Peru once final pre-delivery work has been completed.

MSN 873 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP
Viking Air Ltd.
Victoria, BC 25-Feb-2013
Tim Martin Photo

Aircraft Movments

617 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBR Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

24-Feb-2013

• Calgary, AB (CYYC) - Great Falls, MT (KGTF) - Torrington, WY (KTOR)

25-Feb-2013

• Torrington, WY (KTOR) - Warrensburg, MO (KRCM) - Jefferson, GA (19A)

Kenn Borek's C-GKBR is currently on its delivery flight back to Seaborne Airlines in Saint Croix following overhaul in Calgary, AB. The aircraft had arrived Calgary on 30-Sep-2012.

 

Replacing C-GKBR in the Seaborne fleet (from Sep-2012 through Feb-2013) was MSN 287 C-GKBV. It is expected that it (or perhaps another airframe) will route back from Saint Croix to Calgary once C-GKBR has safely arrived.

693 - DHC-6-300 C-GKCS Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

24-Feb-2013

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)

25-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

C-GKCS is now on it's return flight back to Canada from Antarctica. It had originally departed Calgary, AB on 29-Oct-2012.

Aircraft Movements

873 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

23-Feb-2013 Planned as VKN873

• Spokane, WA (KGEG) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ)

C-GFAP is scheduled out of the paint shop in Spokane tonight, after having arrived there on 11-Feb-2013. It is expected that the aircraft will be in an overall white scheme.

Aircraft Movements

312 - DHC-6-300 C-GCKB Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

21-Feb-2013

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)

22-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA)
• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

C-GCKB is routing back to Calgary from Antarctica - it had originally departed from Calgary back on 31-Oct-2012.



454 - DHC-6-300 C-GUZP Ashe Aircraft Enterprises, Calgary, AB

Registered 22-Feb-2013, ex 8Q-TMT



733 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBG Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

22-Feb-2013

• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

Aircraft Movements

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4 - DHC-6-100 N607NA National Aeronautics & Space Administration, Cleveland, OH

21-Feb-2013

• Hampton-Clayton County, GA (4A7) - Huntington, WV (KHTS) - Cleveland-Hopkins, OH (KCLE)

N607NA had been present at National Aerotech at Hampton since 04-Feb-2013 and is now returning to it`s Cleveland base.

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154 - DHC-6-200 C-FDGV Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

21-Feb-2013

• Ft.McMurray, AB (CYMM) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

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176 - DHC-6-200 N137JR J R Sky Inc., Pound Ridge, NY

21-Feb-2013

• Hampton-Clayton County, GA (4A7) - Henderson-Oxford, NC (KHNZ)

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202 - DHC-6-200 N711AS Tactical Air Operations, Coronado, CA

Noted at San Diego-Brown Field (KSDM) 19-Feb-2013

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311 - DHC-6-300 C-FBBV Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

19-Feb-2013

• Calgary, AB (CYYC) - Hay River, NT (CYHY) - Resolute Bay, NT (CYRB)

A quick turn in Calgary for C-FBBV before heading for the "other" pole having only arrived from Antarctica on 10-Feb-2013.

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454 - DHC-6-300 8Q-TMT Trans Maldivian Airways, Male

Imported to Canada 18-Feb-2013, not yet registered. This is the aircraft seen in the blog entry for 12-Feb-2013.

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644 - DHC-6-300 N300DZ Tactical Air Operations, Coronado, CA

Noted at San Diego-Brown Field (KSDM) 19-Feb-2013

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733 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBG Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

21-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA)

Although there is currently no record of a flight plan available, presumably C-GKBG flew Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) to Brownsville, TX (KBRO) on 20-Feb-2013. The aircraft originally departed from Calgary to Antarctica on 08-Oct-2012.

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767 - DHC-6-300 N3PY Tactical Air Operations, Coronado, CA

Noted at San Diego-Brown Field (KSDM) 19-Feb-2013

Photo Update

The Viking Series 400 Gallery has been brought up to date with additional photos that have appeared in the blog recently. The updated serials are: 864, 871, 872 and 874.

Thank-you to the photographers for the following contributed items below!

MSN 874 - DHC-6-400 C-GLVA (5)
Viking Air Ltd.
Calgary, AB - 14-Feb-2013
Dave Subelack Photo

MSN 103 - DHC-6-100 N169BA
Desert Sand Aircraft Leasing / Skydive Spaceland
BB Airpark, Rosharon, TX
17-Feb-2013
Bart Stevens Photo

MSN 062 - DHC-6-100 7062
Royal Norwegian Air Force
R.N.A.F. Museum, Oslo Gardermoen
Aug-2012
A.Ozanne Photo



MSN 573 - DHC-6-300 ex N573SA
Hevilift
Cairns, QLD
12-Jan-2013
FNQ Skies Photo

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Aircraft Movements

369 - DHC-6-300 C-FGON Air Labrador, Goose Bay, NL

16-Feb-2013

• Springbank, AB (CYBW) - Great Falls, MT (KGTF)
• Great Falls, MT (KGTF) - Rapid City, SD (KRAP)
• Rapid City, SD (KRAP) - Wichita, KS (KICT)
• Wichita, KS (KICT) - Mena, AR (KMEZ)

C-FGON has been under overhaul by Rocky Mountain Aircraft in Springbank, where it had arrived on 01-Oct-2012. It was seen shortly thereafter with the wings removed prior to entering the hangar. Today, following completion of the work at Springbank the aircraft was flown to Mena, AR for repainting.

Aircraft Movements

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52 - DHC-6-100 N52FW Kapowsin Air Sports, Shelton, WA

15-Feb-2013

• Springbank, AB (CYBW) - Seattle-Boeing Field, WA (KBFI)

N52FW has departed the Rocky Mountain Aircraft facility in Springbank, AB after having arrived there on 01-Feb-2013. I would expect the aircraft will continue on to it's base at Shelton's Sanderson Field (KSHN) after clearing U.S. Customs at Boeing Field.

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191 - DHC-6-200 N30EA Eagle Air Transport, Ottawa, IL

Once again has been noted operating from Arecibo, PR (TJAB) as of 15-Feb-2013, instead of it's regular home at the Skydive Chicago airport in Ottawa, IL. The aircraft was also in Arecibo for the same period in 2012 for XtremeDivers boogie which runs 13/17-Feb-2013.

MSN 191 - DHC-6-200 N30EA
Eagle Air Transport (Skydive Chicago)
Arecibo, PR, Feb-2013
Hombrej Photo

 

 

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199 - DHC-6-200 N10EA Eagle Air Transport, Ottawa, IL

 

Noted at Exuma-International, Bahamas (MYEF) 11-Feb-2013, likely heading for Arecibo, PR (TJAB), to participate in the XtremeDivers boogie which runs 13/17-Feb-2013

MSN 199 - DHC-6-200 N10EA
Eagle Air Transport (Skydive Chicago)
Arecibo, PR, Feb-2013
Hombrej Photo

 

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Aircraft Movements

120 - DHC-6-200 N718KW Warren Transportation LLC, Dallas, TX

13-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Veracruz, Mexico (MMVR)

Aircraft Movements

120 - DHC-6-200 N718KW Warren Transportation LLC, Dallas, TX

12-Feb-2013

• Addison, TX (KADS) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)

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864 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Canadian registration cancelled 11-Feb-2013 to Nigeria as 5N-SHE

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Noted at the Kenn Borek Air hangar in Calgary on 10-Feb-2013 is the fuselage below, which likely arrived via shipping container. Trans Maldivian Airways colours can be made out below the yellow sprayover, and damage is visible near the nose. Given the above information, my guess would be MSN 454, the former 8Q-TMT which was damaged at the Conrad Maldives Rangali resort on 09-Jul-2012.

MSN 454?
Calgary, AB (CYYC) 10-Feb-2013
D. Subelack Photo

Aircraft Movements

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311- DHC-6-300 C-FBBV Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

10-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Colorado Springs, CO (KCOS) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

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601 - DHC-6-300 N471SC Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City, UT

Registration cancelled 29-Jan-2013 to Mexico

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873 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

11-Feb-2013 Planned as VKN873

• Calgary, AB (CYYC) - Spokane, WA (KGEG) for painting

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Aircraft Movements

311 - DHC-6-300 C-FBBV Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

09-Feb-2013 Planned

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)

C-FBBV is returning to Canada following the Antarctic summer - it had left Calgary, AB (CYYC) for Antarctica on 16-Oct-2012.

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824 - DHC-6-300 N46RF U.S. Department of Commerce, Macdill AFB, FL

04-Feb-2013

• Minneapolis-Flying Cloud, MN (KFCM) - Winnipeg, MB (CYWG)

09-Feb-2013

• Winnipeg, MB (CYWG) - Minot, ND (KMOT)

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852 - DHC-6-400 N752RT U.S. Army Fixed Wing Project Office, Huntsville, AL

Transferred to military serial Feb-2013 as ??-80262

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876 - DHC-6-400 C-FVIK Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registered 06-Feb-2013

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877 - DHC-6-400 C-GVAQ Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registered 06-Feb-2013

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878 - DHC-6-400 C-FGAL Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registered 06-Feb-2013

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MSN 461 - DHC-6-300 C-FIZD
Provincial Airlines (Innu Mikun)
M.Gardner

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MSN 471 - DHC-6-300 C-GJDE
Provincial Airlines (Innu Mikun)
M.Gardner

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MSN 600 - DHC-6-300 C-GIED
Provincial Airlines (Innu Mikun)
M. Gardner

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Aircraft Movements

338 - DHC-6-300 C-FDHB Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

08-Feb-2013

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Colorado Springs, CO (KCOS) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

Aircraft Movements

338 - DHC-6-300 C-FDHB Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

07-Feb-2013 Planned

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)

C-FDHB had originally left Calgary, AB (CYYC) 01-Nov-2012 en route to Antarctica.

Aircraft Movements

872 - DHC-6-400 C-GVTU Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

18-Jan-2013 (as VKN872)

• Calgary, AB (CYYC) - Spokane, WA (KGEG)

06-Feb-2013 (as C-GVTU)

• Spokane, WA (KGEG) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ)

MSN 872 has arrived in Victoria following painting in Spokane for the Vietnam Navy, as can be seen below

MSN 872 - DHC-6-400 C-GVTU
Viking Air Ltd. (Vietnam Navy)
Victoria, BC, 06-Feb-2013
Brian Maddison Photo

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873 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Noted test flying from Calgary, AB (CYYC) 17/18/19/20/21/25/26-Jan-2013, 01/02/03/04/05-Feb-2013

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874 - DHC-6-400 C-GLVA Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Noted test flying from Calgary, AB (CYYC) 01/02/03/04/05-Feb-2013


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Operator News

03-Feb-2013

Blackstone acquires majority stake in Maldivian Air Taxi & Trans Maldivian Airways

An equity fund managed by Blackstone on behalf of it's equity partners has acquired a controlling interest in both of the Maldives based Twin Otter operators, MAT and TMA. Maldivian Air Taxi founder Lars Erik Neilsen and Trans Maldivian majority shareholders Lars Petre and Hussain Afeef retain substantial shareholdings, and will continue to play significant roles in the company, including serving on the Board of Directors.

 

The airline's combined fleet will include 44 Twin Otters, operating over 100,000 flights per year, and employ over 900 people.

Aircraft Movements

852 - DHC-6-400 N752RT U.S. Army Fixed Wing Project Office, Huntsville, AL

Following work completed at San Bernardino, CA (KSBD) N752RT returned to the Ikhana facility in Murietta-French Valley, CA (F70).

On 02-Feb-2013 the aircraft arrived at Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL (KHST) on delivery to the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. Homestead has been the official location of the team's winter training for the past four years.

Aircraft Movements

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52 - DHC-6-100 N52FW Kapowsin Air Sports, Shelton, WA

01-Feb-2013

• Shelton, WA (KSHN) - Calgary, AB (CYYC)

Looking at the track inbound to Calgary, it appears as though the aircraft has likely continued on to Springbank, AB (CYBW) after a brief stop of about an hour in Calgary.

MSN 52 - DHC-6-100 N52FW
Kapowsin Air Sports
Shelton, WA May-2011
Duncan Kirk Photo

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120 - DHC-6-200 N718KW Warren Transportation LLC, Dallas, TX

01-Feb-2013

• Veracruz, Mexico (MMVR) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO)
• Brownsville, TX (KBRO) - Addison, TX (KADS)

N718KW is returning to the U.S. as it arrives Brownsville, TX today before continuing on to Addison, TX. Normally based at the Warren-owned island of Barbareta, Honduras (near Roatan) the aircraft returned to Texas this time last year as well. In 2012 it arrived from Veracruz on 13-Feb-2012 and departed back to Honduras on 03-Mar-2012.

Certainly one of the sharpest looking -200 series around.

MSN 120 - DHC-6-200 - N718KW
Warren Transportation LLC
Addison, TX
B1rdman Photo

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239 - DHC-6-300 N239Z Gravitas Aviation/Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City

As noted in the blog entry for 19-Dec-2012, N239Z was cancelled from the U.S. register on 17-Dec-2012 to Antigua & Barbuda.

Noted parked at SVG Air hangar at Saint Vincent 10-Jan-2013 now registered J8-GAA.

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272 - DHC-6-300 C-GBEB Ashe Aircraft Enterprises Ltd., Calgary, AB

Registered 22-Jan-2013

As can be seen in the photo below, C-GBEB has been under a lengthy rebuild by Rocky Mountain Aircraft at Springbank. The aircraft stalled and crashed into trees on approach to Hook Lake, NT on 16-Jul-2008.

Given the recent registration again, it is presumably nearing completion.

MSN 272 - DHC-6-300 C-GBEB
Ashe Aircraft Enterprises Ltd.
Springbank, AB

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615 - DHC-6-300 Vistaliner N615AR Twin Otter International, Las Vegas, NV

Noted over Iceland 29/30-Jan-2013, and at Prestwick, UK (EGPK) 31-Jan-2013. Last year about this time N615AR was on a contract in Australia, which ended on 14-Apr-2012 when it positioned back to Grand Junction, CO (KGJT). By mid-2012 it was working primarily out of Hagerstown, MD (KHGR).

MSN 615 - DHC-6-300 N615AR
Twin Otter International Inc.
Prestwick, UK 31-Jan-2013
Gordon Macadie Photo

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650 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBC Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

Lost contact while flying from South Pole Station to Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica on 23-Jan-2013; ELT location was determined 24-Jan-2013, and the wreckage was located 26-Jan-2013 at the 13,000ft level on Mount Elizabeth. Sadly, there were no survivors amongst the three onboard.

 

C-GKBC had left Canada for Antarctica on 14-Oct-2012.

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864 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

17-Jan-2013

• Guernsey, UK (EGJB) - Almeria, Spain (LEAM)

18-Jan-2013

• Almeria, Spain (LEAM) - Agadir, Morocco (GMAD)

19-Jan-2013

• Agadir, Morocco (GMAD) - Banjul, Gambia (GBYD)

20-Jan-2013

• Banjul, Gambia (GBYD) - Lagos, Nigeria (DNMM)

MSN 864 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA
Viking Air Ltd.
Agadir, Morocco
BNSF Photo