Aircraft Movements

372 - DHC-6-300 C-FTWU Ashe Aircraft Enterprises, Calgary, AB

28-Feb-2014

• Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Regina, SK (CYQR/YQR)
• Regina, SK (CYQR/YQR) - Winnipeg, MB (CYWG/YWG)

C-FTWU has departed Regina bound for Winnipeg this evening, on delivery to Air Labrador. Although it had been in Springbank for some time, the aircraft was actually only registered to Ashe on 18-Feb-2014 on its return from Alberta Central.

Aircraft Movements

40 - DHC-6-100 N902RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

Registered 27-Feb-2014, ex C-FGQE

The third member of the West Coast trio has now been registered to Ikhana as well. Also note a correction in the registrations in the original two from yesterday's blog. The information that is shown in the 27-Feb-2014 entry has now been corrected.

Of the three aircraft I'd expect N901RT (MSN 96) is the only one that could potentially fly to California on delivery; N902RT (MSN 40) and N903RT (MSN 51) will likely need to go via road transport.

200 - DHC-6-200 N123FX Freefall Express, Keene, NH

Registered 27-Feb-2014

The above is not an ownership change, however the registration had expired as of 31-Dec-2013, and the aircraft has now had a new certificate of registration issued.

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

24-Feb-2014

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

320 - DHC-6-300 C-FMPL Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, ON

Registration cancelled 24-Feb-2014 - there is currently no country of export indicated, so quite possibly just a pending change of ownership.

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

27-Feb-2014

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB/LIR) - McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE)

28-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)
• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC)

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

28-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)
• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC)

867 - DHC-6-400 N869VK Bank of Utah Trustee/Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

As of today, N869VK so far remains on the ground in Anchorage, AK as far as I can see,

Photo Update

MSN 892 - DHC-6-400 FAP 307
Fuerza Aerea del Peru
Victoria, BC 27-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo

Aircraft Movements

As expected, two of the three ex-West Coast Air aircraft exported on 25-Feb-2014 have now been registered to Ikhana;

51 - DHC-6-100 N903RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

Registered 26-Feb-2014, ex C-FMHR

96 - DHC-6-100 N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

Registered 26-Feb-2014, ex C-FWTE

Ikhana has reserved the registration block N901RT to N905RT with effect from 26-Feb-2014. 

Aircraft Movements

867 - DHC-6-400 N869VK Bank of Utah Trustee/Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

26-Feb-2014 

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Anchorage, AK (PANC/ANC)

The second aircraft to be delivered to the Vietnam Navy has now departed Victoria bound for Anchorage, AK. N869VK was off Victoria at 08:49 local, and is planned at 7 hours for the trip.

Aircraft Movements

867 - DHC-6-400 N869VK Bank of Utah Trustee/Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

26-Feb-2014 Planned

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Anchorage, AK (PANC/ANC)

The second delivery for the Vietnam Navy is planned for departure from Victoria tomorrow. N869VK is expected to become VNT-775 after delivery.

894 - DHC-6-400 C-GNVA Viking Air Ltd.,, Sidney, BC

25-Feb-2014 

• Spokane, WA (KGEG/GEG) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ)

895 - DHC-6-400 C-GVVA Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

25-Feb-2014

• Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Spokane, WA (KGEG/GEG)

Aircraft Movements

40 - DHC-6-100 C-FGQE West Coast Air Ltd., Vancouver, BC

Registration cancelled 25-Feb-2014 as exported to U.S.A.


51 - DHC-6-100 C-FMHR West Coast Air Ltd., Vancouver, BC

Registration cancelled 25-Feb-2014 as exported to U.S.A.


96 - DHC-6-100 C-FWTE West Coast Air Ltd., Vancouver, BC

Registration cancelled 25-Feb-2014 as exported to U.S.A.


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

Registration cancelled 24-Feb-2014 on export to Peru as FAP 307

Aircraft Movements

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

24-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)

406 - DHC-6-400 N171GC LC Peru (Cortez Fisher LLC, Kirkland, WA)

24-Feb-2014

• El Paso, TX (KELP/ELP) - Tucson, AZ (KTUS/TUS)
• Tucson, AZ (KTUS/TUS) - Boulder, NV (KBVU/BVU)

Aircraft Movements & Photo Update

181 - DHC-6-200 N181CS Bank of Utah Trustee/Rampart Aviation LLC, Franklinton, NC

20-Feb-2014

• Nuuk, Greenland (BGGH/GOH) - Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB)

22-Feb-2014

• Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB) - Kuujjuaq, QC (CYVP/YVP)
• Kuujjuaq, QC (CYVP/YVP) - Schefferville, QC (CYKL/YKL)
• Schefferville, QC (CYKL/YKL) - Baie Comeau, QC (CYBC/YBC)
• Baie Comeau, QC (CYBC/YBC) - Bangor, ME (KBGR/BGR)

23-Feb-2014

• Bangor, ME (KBGR/BGR) - West Chester, PA (KOQN/OQN)
• West Chester, PA (KOQN/OQN) - North Raleigh, NC (OONC)

N181CS is now on the final sector of its return to home base at North Raleigh. The aircraft has been abroad on survey work since 06-Nov-2012.

MSN 181 - DHC-6-200 N181CS
Bank of Utah Trustee/Rampart Aviation LLC
West Chester-Brandywine, PA
23-Feb-2014
Cary Liao Photo

MSN 181 - DHC-6-200 N181CS
Bank of Utah Trustee/Rampart Aviation LLC
West Chester-Brandywine, PA
23-Feb-2014
Bill Shull Photo

MSN 181 - DHC-6-200 N181CS
Bank of Utah Trustee/Rampart Aviation LLC
West Chester-Brandywine, PA
23-Feb-2014
Bill Shull Photo

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

23-Feb-2014

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB/LIR) - McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE)

C-FBBV is returning from Antarctica; it had departed Calgary, AB on 06-Nov-2013.


406 - DHC-6-300 N171GC LC Peru, Lima

22-Feb-2014

• Veracruz-Heriberto Jara, Mexico (MMVR/VER) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO)

23-Feb-2014

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO) - Junction, TX (KCJT/CJT)
• Junction, TX (KCJT/CJT) - El Paso, TX (KELP/ELP)

This would appear to be the one that had previously been filed as SXA1117 - and makes it one of the two LC Peru aircraft. That should probably make SXA1118 N72GC.

Both aircraft left the U.S. in the summer of 2012, with N72GC exiting via Brownsville, TX 02-Jul-2012, and N171GC following the same route on 29-Aug-2012. They are both Grand Canyon aircraft although registered to different Halvorson holding companies in Washington State.


Photo Update

MSN 110 - DHC-6-100 N716NC
Freefall Express
Deland, FL 22-Feb-2014
Nigel Prevett Photo

MSN 208 - DHC-6-200 N901ST
Sky Team Aviation
Deland, FL 22-Feb-2014
Nigel Prevett Photo

Aircraft Movements

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

21-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)
• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC)

888 - DHC-6-400 C-GVOT Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

21-Feb-2014

• Murrieta-French Valley, CA (F70) - Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD)
• Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ)

The next U.A.E. Joint Aviation Command aircraft has departed the Ikhana facility and is currently en route to Redding and then Victoria. MSN 888 had been with Ikhana since 11-Jan-2014.



The two aircraft operating under Southern Cross ferry flight numbers SXA1117/SXA1118 are flight planned again today, on the same routing as yesterday. If anyone knows, and wants to volunteer which aircraft these two are, that would be great.

Aircraft Movements & Photo Update

??? - DHC-6-  ?   Southern Cross Aviation

20-Feb-2014 as SXA1117

• Veracruz, Mexico (MMVR/VER) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO)
• Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO) - Junction, TX (KJCT/JCT)

??? - DHC-6-  ?   Southern Cross Aviation

20-Feb-2014 as SXA1118

• Veracruz, Mexico (MVR/VER) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO)
• Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO) - Junction, TX (KJCT/JCT)

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

20-Feb-2014

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB/LIR) - McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE)

C-GCKB is returning from Antarctica; it had departed from Calgary, AB 06-Nov-2013.


372 - DHC-6-300 C-FTWU Alberta Central Airways, Lac la Biche, AB

Registered to Ashe Aircraft Enterprises 18-Feb-2014; C-FTWU was originally registered to Ashe in 2003 and has been with Alberta Central since 2004.


620 - DHC-6-300 N888PV PL2 LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (Seaborne Airlines)

Registered to Montecito New York LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (Seaborne Airlines) 19-Feb-2014


C.A.A.N. Accident Report - Royal Nepal Airlines DHC-6-300 MSN 638 9N-ABO 16-May-2013

638 9N-ABO 16-May-2013 Jomsom, Nepal



DHC-6-400 MSN 884 C-FVAM has returned to Victoria from Ikhana in Murrieta, CA - arriving there yesterday. This is the first Vietnam Navy aircraft we've seen that has been fitted with the skydive door, as can be noted in Tim Martin's photo below.

MSN 884 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAM
Viking Air
Victoria, BC 19-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo

Aircraft Movements

429 - DHC-6-300 N162DE Rampart Aviation LLC, Franklinton, NC

I hadn't listed the recent movements of this one as they were within the U.S., however since it has now gone abroad again, here are the details of late;

When N162DE was last listed it was the arrival in Greeley, CO on 27-Oct-2013, where it appears to have remained until:

16-Feb-2014

• Greeley, CO (KGXY/GXY) - Lubbock, TX (KLBB/LBB)
• Lubbock, TX (KLBB/LBB) - McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE)

19-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Harlingen-Valley, TX (KHRL/HRL)
• Harlingen-Valley, TX (KHRL/HRL) - Veracruz-Heriberto Jara, Mexico (MMVR/VER)

592 - DHC-6-300 P2-KSO Hevilift Ltd., Waigani

On 14-Feb-2014 Papua New Guinea register, ex P2-MCD of Airlines PNG


673 - DHC-6-300 P2-KSU Hevilift Ltd., Waigani

On 14-Feb-2014 Papua New Guinea register, ex P2-MCE of Airlines PNG

The third aircraft that was ferried into Cairns, QLD on 04-Dec-2013, MSN 703 P2-MCX remains registered to Airlines PNG for the moment.


884 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAM Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

19-Feb-2014 Planned

• Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ)

Aircraft Movements

725 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBO Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

18-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)

884 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAM Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Updating the blog entry for 15-Feb-2014:

It would appear that the aircraft did in fact fly Murrieta, CA to Redding, CA on 15-Feb-2014 as noted, however sometime after that it then returned back to Murietta, CA. There is no flight plan record of that return trip available.

Today it has once again filed for the same Murietta to Redding route, this time as VKN884 (it had previously used C-FVAM on the flight plan)

18-Feb-2014 Planned

• Murietta-French Valley,CA (F70) - Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD)

890 - DHC-6-400 N400GZ Ground Zero Solutions LLC, Alexandria, VA

Again, updating a previous report from 13-Feb-2014:

The pre-delivery modifications scheduled for N400GZ will now be completed at Louisburg-Triangle North, NC (KLHZ/LHZ)

Aircraft Movements

725 - DHC-6-300 C-GKBO Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

17-Feb-2014 Planned

• Liberia, Costa Rica (MRLB/LIR) - McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE)

C-GKBO has filed for departure from Costa Rica today with a destination of McAllen, TX. The aircraft is returning from Antarctica, having left Calgary on 27-Oct-2013.

Aircraft Movements

426 - DHC-6-300 C-GXXB Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

17-Feb-2014

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

766 - DHC-6-300 C-GKPV Unity Group Ltd., Airdrie, AB

New certificate of registration issued 10-Feb-2014, which likely coincides with the receipt of the STC approval for the avionics upgrade that was completed by Calgary-based Aerocorp Avionics Solutions. The aircraft is destined for PT Air Born at Balikpapan, Indonesia.

C-GKPV was originally registered in Canada on 22-Mar-2012 upon its return from Nicaragua where it had been carrying YN-CHQ.

876 - DHC-6-400 2276 United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command., Al Ain

New military serial confirmed, ex N400GZ(1) and noted at Al Ain-Camp Hazza in all white c/s 11-Feb-2014

Credit: Scramble

Aircraft Movements

164 - DHC-6-200 VH-XFM Fortescue Metals Group, East Perth, WA

16-Feb-2014 

• Alice Springs, NT (YBAS/ASP) - Mount Isa, QLD (YBMA/ISA)

17-Feb-2014

• Mount Isa, QLD (YBMA/ISA) - Cairns, QLD (YBCS/CNS)

MSN 164 - VH-XFM DHC-6-200
Helibits/Fortescue Metals
Cairns, QLD 17-Feb-2014
Paul Howard Photo

426 - DHC-6-300 C-GXXB Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

16-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller, TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)

Incident Report

302 - DHC-6-300 9N-ABB Royal Nepal Airlines (Nepal Airlines), Kathmandu

16-Feb-2014

Sadly it appears we have another in a long line of Twin Otter losses in the challenging operating environment of Nepal.

Royal Nepal's 9N-ABB has crashed in the forest in the Argakhanchi district after departure from Pokhara. The wreckage was located on 17-Feb-2014 near the village of Masine Lek, and it has been confirmed that there were 18 fatalities. The crash occurred at the 7,000 ft level, and wreckage was found over an area of approximately 7 kilometers.

The aircraft was en route from Kathmandu to Jumla, with a stop in Pokhara, and carried a crew of 3, and 15 passengers.

Aircraft Movements

884 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAM Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

15-Feb-2014

• Murrieta-French Valley, CA (F70) - Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD)

C-FVAM has departed the Ikhana facility in Murrieta today, with the first sector up to Redding, CA. The aircraft had been present in Murrieta since arriving there on 22-Oct-2013 for pre-delivery modifications. It is destined for the Vietnam Navy as VNT-772.

894 - DHC-6-400 C-GNVA Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

13-Feb-2014

• Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Spokane, WA (KGEG/GEG)

899 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVT Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registered 12-Feb-2014

Aircraft Movements

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

13-Feb-2014

• Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Great Falls, MT (KGTF/GTF)
• Great Falls, MT (KGTF/GTF) - Cheyenne-Regional, WY (KCYS/CYS)

890 - DHC-6-400 N400GZ Ground Zero Solutions LLC, Alexandria, VA

13-Feb-2014

• Rapid City, SD (KRAP/RAP) - Paris-Edgar County, IL (KPRG/PRG)
• Paris-Edgar County, IL (KPRG/PRG) - Louisburg-Triangle North, NC (KLHZ/LHZ)

N400GZ has now filed for the next sector on to Louisburg, with a flight time of 2 hours and 48 minutes. From there the final hop should be into the privately owned North Raleigh, NC (00NC) field located just to the northwest.

New Viking Series 400 Order

Viking Adds Two Series 400 Twin Otters to Singapore Airshow Sales Total

CAVU Aviation Finance Becomes Largest Twin Otter Series 400 Customer to Date 

Singapore, February 14th, 2014: With the bustling 2014 Singapore Airshow show well underway, Viking Air Limited of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, was able to capture another multiple aircraft sale of the Twin Otter Series 400, adding to an order book nearing 100 aircraft sold. CAVU Aviation Finance LLC, of Palm Beach, Florida, USA, met with Viking late on Wednesday afternoon to sign a contract for another two Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft, adding to their current aircraft order list. 

The additional two Series 400 brings the CAVU order tally (through its subsidiary Loch Ard Otters LLC) to fourteen aircraft since program launch, making CAVU the largest Viking Twin Otter customer to date. CAVU has already taken delivery of their first six aircraft, helping to launch the Twin Otter Series 400 in Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Turkey, Bangladesh, and the United Arab Emirates. 

“Loch Ard was one of the original launch customers for the Series 400 Twin Otter program, and has returned to Viking on more than one occasion to increase their aircraft orders,” commented  David Curtis, Viking president & CEO. “We greatly appreciate the customer loyalty Loch Ard has developed with Viking, and their continued confidence in the Series 400 Twin Otter.” 

Said Matt Lorentzen, president of CAVU Aviation Finance LLC, “the Twin Otter 400 is the best solution for customers requiring up to 19-passenger capacity in STOL and seaplane configurations. As customer demand grows for new Twin Otter 400s, we are pleased to expand our relationship with Viking with additional aircraft orders, extending our available delivery positions from 2014 through 2016.” 

CAVU Aviation Finance LLC (www.CAVUfinance.com) is an aircraft investment and finance company with headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida, USA. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Loch Ard Otters LLC, CAVU sells and leases Series 400 Twin Otters to customers worldwide.

With Viking aircraft sold and delivered to 23 countries worldwide, the Series 400 Twin Otter is confirmed as the best-selling next generation turbo-prop aircraft in its class. 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.

Aircraft Movements

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

13-Feb-2014 

• Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO) - Minatitlan, Mexico (MMMT/MTT)

The Warren Twin Otter continues to make its way back to base in Honduras with this morning's sector from Brownsville to Minatitlan, in the state of Veracruz.

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

13-Feb-2014 Planned

• Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Great Falls, MT (KGTF/GTF)

Following a successful test flight on 11-Feb-2014, N46RF is scheduled to leave the Rocky Mountain Aircraft facility in Springbank this morning. The aircraft had departed its base at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL

on 21-Oct-2013.

Aircraft Movements

890 - DHC-6-400 N400GZ Ground Zero Solutions LLC, Alexandria, VA

12-Feb-2014

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Bellingham, WA (KBLI/BLI)
• Bellingham, WA (KBLI/BLI) - Rapid City, SD (KRAP/RAP)

N400GZ has now received all required FAA documentation to ferry for additional pre-delivery modifications, and is expected to depart Bellingham, WA shortly. This is the next U.A.E. bound aircraft, and the modification work will be undertaken by Rampart Aviation in North Carolina.

Aircraft Movements

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

12-Feb-2014

Dallas-Addison, TX (KADS/ADS) - Brownsville, TX (KBRO/BRO)

Kelcy Warren's N718KW has filed for departure from Addison today, returning to base in Honduras. The aircraft had arrived in Addison on 28-Jan-2014.

358 - DHC-6-300 C-GXWG Gravitas Aviation Ltd., Vancouver, BC

Officially imported to Canada 11-Feb-2014 & registered 12-Feb-2014, ex PJ-WIL

This aircraft was last noted at Airdrie, AB 06-Sep-2013, after passing through Calgary, AB on 

21-Jun-2013.

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

11-Feb-2014

Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW)

N46RF completed a one hour test flight from Springbank yesterday. The aircraft has been present there since arriving from Great Falls, MT on 23-Oct-2013.

844 - 9M-MDN MASWings, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Officially imported to Canada 11-Feb-2014

9M-MDN  crashed into a paddy field following an overshoot of the runway at  Ba'kelalan, Sarawak on 13-Sep-2008.

New Viking Series 400 Order

Viking Sells First Series 400 Twin Otters to Japanese Market 

First Flying To Become Inaugural Twin Otter Series 400 Operator in Country 

Singapore, February 12th, 2014: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, BC, Canada and First Flying

Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, have entered into an agreement for the purchase of two Twin Otter 

Series 400 aircraft, making First Flying the premiere Twin Otter Series 400 customer in the 

country. 

The two aircraft, scheduled for delivery starting in early 2015, will be configured as standard
19-passenger commercial landplanes and put into operation as domestic carriers based in
Okinawa and operated throughout the Ryukyu Islands in the southernmost region of Japan.
“We are pleased to add First Flying to our growing list of international customers, not only as
a new member of the Series 400 family, but as a leader in opening up the Japanese market,”
commented David Curtis, Viking president & CEO. He continued, “We are confident that the
aircraft will be well received in this new market, and First Flying will be successful in introducing
the Twin Otter Series 400 to Japan.”

Masanobu Nishikawa, First Flying president, stated “We are very happy to be bringing the
Twin Otter Series 400 back to Japan again, as it has been approximately eight years since
the last Series 300 Twin Otter retired from the Japanese sky.” He added, “Our company has
put forward considerable effort to maintain the routes among the Ryuku Islands in Okinawa,
and the addition of our new Series 400 aircraft will enable us to develop new routes and bring
more passengers and cargo to the area. We are sure that our determination will be great
news not just for Okinawa citizens, but for all the people of Japan.”

First Flying Co., Ltd. is a regional air carrier and flying club based at Yao Airport, in Osaka,
and operates a mixed fleet of fixed wing and rotary aircraft for flightseeing, aerial survey and
flight training services between Yao Airport and Hiroshima-Heliport.

With Viking aircraft sold and delivered to 23 countries worldwide, the Series 400 Twin Otter is
confirmed as the best-selling next generation turbo-prop aircraft in its class. 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.

Aircraft Movements

887 - DHC-6-400 N900VK Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City, UT

Registered 10-Feb-2014, ex C-GVAT

This aircraft's Canadian registration was cancelled on 06-Feb-2014 to the U.S. and is the second Vietnam Navy aircraft to carry a U.S. identity prior to delivery. It flew down to the Ikhana Group facility in Murrieta-French Valley, CA on 17-Dec-2013 for pre-delivery modifications.


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

Registration cancelled 10-Feb-2014 to Peru.

As seen in the blog update photograph on 07-Feb-2014, this aircraft has become FAP 306.

Aircraft Update

RUAG Aviation completes Twin Otter re-life project

Emmen, Switzerland, 10 February 2014. 

A 33 year old DHC-6 Twin Otter has received a new lease on life, following a comprehensive overhaul and upgrade project completed by RUAG Aviation at their facility in Bern-Belp, Switzerland. The re-life project was performed on behalf of Blue Bird Aviation Yemen, which owns the DHC-6 Twin Otter 7O-ADI MSN 664 and approached RUAG Aviation following successful experiences with engine and component overhauls.

Corrosion repairs were carried out on the wings, improving the aircraft’s safety and lifespan, and enabling the customer to avoid the unnecessary costs and downtime of complete wing replacements. The re-life programme extends the wing’s use for a further 33,000 flight hours. To further improve the Twin Otter’s life cycle, the cockpit of the 33 year old aircraft was fully modernised. Garmin 650/750 touchscreen navigation displays were integrated by RUAG Aviation, along with an Aspen 1000 avionics suite that incorporates an autopilot system and a new weather radar.

“The upgrades and modifications performed by RUAG Aviation have effectively made a new aircraft out of the Twin Otter 7O-ADI MSN 664,” says Simon Hafele, General Manager of RUAG Aviation’s Bern/Belp facility. “With the aircraft’s new modern avionics and the re-life STC of its wings, the customer can confidently continue operating their Twin Otter for many more years to come.”

The entire avionics engineering, manufacturing of cable looms, installations and final testing involved in the re-life programme were completed by RUAG Aviation.

RUAG Aviation is a certified Part 21J EASA Design Organisation, Part 21G EASA Production Organisation and Part 145 EASA Maintenance Organisation.

For further details visit www.ruag.com/engineering or contact Pirmin Berger, Head of Marketing & Communication RUAG Aviation: pirmin.berger@ruag.com / mobile phone +41 79 204 55 61

Aircraft Movements

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

08-Feb-2014

• McAllen-Miller Int'l., TX (KMFE/MFE) - Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA)
• Denver-Centennial, CO (KAPA/APA) - Calgary, AB (CYYC/YYC)

A nice shot of  'DHB taken at Centennial this afternoon courtesy of Braden Hicks in Denver.

MSN 338 - DHC-6-300 C-FDHB
Kenn Borek Air
Denver-Centennial, CO 08-Feb-2014
Braden Hicks Photo

Aircraft Movements & Photo Update

887 - DHC-6-400 C-GVAT Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registration cancelled 06-Feb-2014 to U.S.A.

MSN 887 is ultimately destined for Vietnam as VNT-773.



The aircraft destined for the Peruvian Air Force have proved to be difficult to photograph before delivery, so it is nice to see Tim's shot of 306 yesterday.

MSN 891 - DHC-6-400 FAP 306
Fuerza Aerea del Peru
Victoria, BC 06-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo

893 - DHC-6-400 C-GFVT Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

06-Feb-2014

• Spokane, WA (KGEG/GEG) - Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ)

MSN 893 - DHC-6-400 C-GFVT
Viking Air (MASwings)
Victoria, BC 06-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo

Incident Report

861 - DHC-6-400 RA-67282 Chukotavia Air Company, Anadyr, Russia

05-Feb-2014

Nose gear failed after runway excursion on landing at Anadyr-Ugolny following a scheduled service from Cross Bay (Zaliv Kresta), Chukotka. The aircraft appears to have sustained fairly typical station 60 damage, as can be seen in the photo below. There were no injuries to the nine on board.

MSN 861 - DHC-6-400 RA-67282
Chukotavia Air Company
Anadyr-Ugolny, Russia 05-Feb-2014
Photo: Alexeyvvo

Aircraft Movements & Photo Update

882 - DHC-6-400 C-FAFI Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registration cancelled 04-Feb-2014 as exported to U.S.A.

This aircraft arrived Titusville, FL 30-Jan-2014 - new U.S. identity unknown at present.


890 - DHC-6-400 N400GZ Ground Zero Solutions LLC, Alexandria, VA

Registered 04-Feb-2014 (see previous blog entries for further details)

MSN 890 - DHC-6-400 N400GZ
Ground Zero Solutions
Victoria, BC 03-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo

MSN 892 - DHC-6-400 C-FVIK
Viking Air
Victoria, BC 03-Feb-2014
Tim Martin Photo