442 H4-SID Arrives Cairns from the Solomons

442 - DHC-6-300 H4-SID Solomon Airlines, Honiara

29-Sep-2015

• Honiara, Solomons (AGGH/HIR) - Gurney, PNG (AYNG/GUR)
• Gurney, PNG (AYNG/GUT) - Cairns, QLD (YBCS/CNS)

Solomons H4-SID flew into Cairns from Honiara, likely for maintenance work to be completed. It can be seen in the approach photo below courtesy of Paul Howard, and on the ground with thanks to FNQ Skies.

MSN 442 - DHC-6-300 H4-SID
Solomon Airlines
Cairns, QLD 29-Sep-2015
Paul Howard Photo

MSN 442 - DHC-6-300 H4-SID
Solomon Airlines
Cairns, QLD 29-Sep-2015
FNQ Skies Photo

920 Registered in U.S. and Delivery Update Photos for 924, 926 and 927

920 - DHC-6-400 N903VK Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City, UT (Viking Air Ltd.)

Officially registered 25-Sep-2015. This aircraft positioned down to Ikhana at Murrieta on 17-Sep-2015.

MSN 927 C-GVOT is seen below this morning at Calgary, AB where it is currently at Regent Aircraft Services prior to delivery to Air Seychelles. Once ferry tank installation has been completed it is expected to depart to Mahé on delivery.

MSN 927 - DHC-6-400 C-GVOT
Viking Air Ltd. (Air Seychelles)
Calgary-Int'l, AB 28-Sep-2015

MSN 924 is seen below arriving at Jakarta-Halim on delivery to Airfast Indonesia. This aircraft left Victoria on 12-Sep-2015.

MSN 924 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA
Viking Air Ltd. (Airfast Indonesia)
Jakarta-Halim 27-Sep-2015
Ihsan-fr Photo

MSN 926 C-GUVT is seen at Kathmandu on 26-Sep-2015 and is the second Series 400 delivered to Yeti Airlines subsidiary, Tara Air.

MSN 926 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVT
Viking Air Ltd. (Tara Air)
Kathmandu, Nepal 26-Sep-2015
Susheel Bhattarai Photo

926 C-GUVT Arrives in Kathmandu, 389 N288SA has Ferry Tanks Installed

The second series 400 for Tara Air was delivered safely today by Worldwide Ferry; the aircraft had originally departed Springbank, AB on 18-Sep-2015 and covered some 10,000 miles en route.

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

26-Sep-2015

• Ahmedabad, India (AMD/VAAH) - Kathmandu, Nepal (VNKT/KTM)

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

Four of the six MASwings Series 400's seen below in a photo by SirNordin Maha

The ferry tank installation on MSN 389 N288SA completed by Southern Cross Aviation, prior to its delivery to Indonesia for Dimonim Air. Photo courtesy of Rotorwash17

926 C-GUVT Lands In India

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

25-Sep-2015

• Al Ain, UAE (AAN/OMAL) - Ahmedabad, India (AMD/VAAH)

C-GUVT continues its trek to the Himalayas with the most recent sector to India. Providing there are no unexpected issues with Indian overflight clearances, it should manage the final flight nonstop to Kathmandu tomorrow.

Looking just great just prior to landing in Vancouver Harbour, DHC-6-200HG™ C-FGQH was caught by John Olafson in early September.

MSN 106 - DHC-6-200HG™ C-FGQH
Westcoast Air
Vancouver-Harbour, BC 05-Sep-2015
John Olafson Photo

369 C-FGON Sustains Minor Damage During Beach Taxi

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

24-Sep-2015

Sustained damage to lower fuselage when nose gear sank into soft sand, causing the shock strut to fail. The aircraft was taxiing on a beach at Daniels River, NL at the time. Repairable.

920 C-GVZQ Cancelled to U.S.A.

920 - DHC-6-400 C-GVZQ Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Canadian registration cancelled 24-Sep-2015 to U.S.A.  C-GVZQ was delivered to the Ikhana Group facility in Murrieta on 17-Sep-2015.

Exclusive Pictures of MSN 906, PK-FUR is identified, and 926 continues from Sweden to the U.A.E.

MSN 906 C-GVTU is seen below at Calgary, AB on 22-Sep-2015. The aircraft had positioned over from Springbank, AB on 25-Aug-2015 for painting, and then some modification work at Regent Aircraft Services. Ferry tank installation for the trip to Timor-Leste is expected to be accomplished over the next few days.

The scheme below belongs to the the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse, an exclave within the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

MSN 906 - DHC-6-400 C-GVTU
Planes & Parts Ltd.
Calgary-Int'l, AB 22-Sep-2015

485 - DHC-6-300 P2-KSB Hevilift PNG, Waigani

Last flight noted as such was 07-Aug-2014 Port Moresby, NCD - Cairns, QLD and was noted 12-Aug-2014 with registration partially removed, and outside at Cairns, QLD 02-Sep-2015 as PK-FUR. Subsequently transferred to Hevilift Indonesia as such.

The aircraft is still indicating current on the PNG aircraft register as P2-KSB as of their 29-Jun-2015 listing.

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

22-Sep-2014

• Malmö, Sweden (ESMS/MMX) - Nis, Serbia (LYNI/INI)

23-Sep-2014

• Nis, Serbia (LYNI/INI) - Heraklion, Greece (LGIR/HER)
• Heraklion, Greece (LGIR/HER) - Hurghada, Egypt (HEGN/HRG)

24-Sep-2014

• Hurghada, Egypt (HEGN/HRG) - Al Ain, U.A.E. (AAN/OMAL)

924 C-GUVA at Taipei, Taiwan

With thanks to Jeff Chang, a nice shot of C-GUVA during its transit of Taipei. The aircraft is scheduled to depart to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

MSN 924 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA
Viking Air (Airfast Indonesia)
Taipei, Taiwan 21-Sep-2015
Jeff Chang Photo

Maldives Incident, 926 Continues on Delivery to Nepal, 793 Appears in Calgary & Photos from Colombia and Indonesia

MSN 727 - DHC-6-300 PNC-0201
Policia Nacional de Colombia
Boyaca, Colombia
Planespotting Tunja Photo

Below is a photograph of MSN 357 PK-VKL recently taken at Biak, Indonesia. This aircraft was previously operated by Aviastar Mandiri as PK-BRZ.

MSN 357 - DHC-6-300 PK-VKL
Skycab Aviation
Biak-Frans Kaiseipo, Indonesia Sep-2015
Edi Nurprasetya Photo

MSN 793 CC-PQQ has now moved on to Calgary, AB as can be seen in the photograph below from Dave Subelack. The aircraft had previously been photographed at Collingwood, ON on 12-Sep-2015.

MSN 793 - DHC-6-300 CC-PQQ
Barrick Chile
Calgary, AB 20-Sep-2015
Dave Subelack Photo

798 - DHC-6-300 8Q-TME Trans Maldivian Airways, Male

21-Sep-2015

Sank while docked at the Atmosphere Kanifushi Resort, in the Lhaviyani Atoll during strong winds and swells. It would appear that there is no significant structural damage other than what will have been caused by the sea water.

MSN 798 - DHC-6-300 8Q-TME
Trans Maldivian Airways
Kanifushi Resort, Maldives

MSN 798 - DHC-6-300 8Q-TME
Trans Maldivian Airways
Kanifushi Resort, Maldives

857 - DHC-6-400 TC-KHC Körfez Havaçilik, Istanbul

20-Sep-2015

• Vilnius, Lithuania (EYVI/VNO) - Lviv, Ukraine (UKLL/LWO)
• Lviv, Ukraine (UKLL/LWO) - Chisinau, Moldova (LUKK/KIV)
• Chisinau, Moldoa (LUKK/KIV) - Istanbul, Turkey (LTBA/IST)

TC-KHC has returned to Turkey following a trip that began in Switzerland, and took it through the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Ukraine and Moldova. 

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

19-Sep-2015

• Thompson, MB (CYTH/YTH) - Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB)

20-Sep-2015

• Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB) - Keflavík, Iceland (BIKF/KEF)

21-Sep-2014

• Keflavík, Iceland (BIKF/KEF) - Malmö, Sweden (ESMS/MMX)

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

Information Required:

A reader noted an all white Twin Otter parked at Tirana, Albania on 17-Sep-2015. It appeared as the aircraft had arrived recently. I am thinking this could have been 334 N344CS which went through Lelystad and Wick a couple days later.

Any offers of confirmation on the identity?

926 Continues to Iqaluit, 929 Heads to the Paint Shop, Photos from Springbank and Malaysia

357 - DHC-6-300 PK-VKL Skycab Aviation, Jakarta

Noted at Biak 12-Sep-2015, however also noted/photographed as far back as May-2015 as well. MSN to be confirmed.


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

19-Sep-2015

• Thompson, MB (CYTH/YTH) - Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB)

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

18-Sep-2015

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

MSN 783 - DHC-6-300 VP-FBB
British Antarctic Survey
Springbank, AB 18-Sep-2015

MSN 905 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAT
Planes & Parts Ltd.
Springbank, AB 18-Sep-2015

MSN 893 - DHC-6-400 9M-SSD
MASwings
Bario, Malaysia 17-Sep-2015
ProjectWHEE Photo

926 C-GUVT Departs Springbank on Delivery

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

18-Sep-2015

• Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Thompson, MB (CYTH/YTH)

C-GUVT has now departed Springbank on its delivery flight to Nepal for Tara Air. It is expected to continue on to Iqaluit after Thompson. The aircraft is seen below this afternoon, prior to departure from the Rocky Mountain Aircraft facility at Springbank, AB.

MSN 926 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVT
Viking Air (Tara Air)
Springbank, AB 18-Sep-2015

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

Tara Air 9N-AKL Rolled Out in New Scheme

Tara Air's first DHC-6-400 9N-AKL was rolled out yesterday at Kathmandu in a new colour scheme, with additional Great Himalayan Trail titles/logos. This aircraft had been delivered all white to Nepal on 15-Jul-2015.

The company's second Series 400, MSN 926 C-GUVT left Victoria on 11-Sep-2015 for installation of ferry tanks, and was expected to depart on delivery today. Interestingly, the newer aircraft does not carry this revised paint scheme.

MSN 921 - DHC-6-400 9N-AKL
Tara Air
Kathmandu, Nepal 17-Sep-2015
Tara Air Photo

920 C-GVZQ Departs Victoria

920 - DHC-6-400 C-GVZQ Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

17-Sep-2015

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Bellingham, WA (KBLI/BLI)
• Bellingham, WA (KBLI/BLI) - Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD)
• Redding, CA (KRDD/RDD) - Murrieta, CA (F70)

C-GVZQ has filed to depart Victoria this afternoon, destined for the Ikhana facility in Murrieta, CA. The aircraft has been present at Victoria since arriving from the paint shop on 24-Mar-2015.

MSN 920 - DHC-6-400 C-GVZQ
Viking Air Ltd.
Victoria, BC 24-Mar-2015
Tim Martin Photo

Twin Otter Spotter Exclusive Update

The status of all of the aircraft featured below had previously been unknown, so it is great to be able to update their overall situations. The conditions vary from bad to surprisingly good, and it appears that one aircraft (the newest, MSN 487) has engines installed. The status of their records however may be a different story entirely.

All come from the fleet of Merpati Nusantara Airlines, a significant Twin Otter operator who received their first example in 1967, but ceased operations in 2014.

MSN 383 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUH
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 386 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUI
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 443 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUZ
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 472 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUV
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 478 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUU
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 481 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUS
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 484 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUR
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

MSN 487 - DHC-6-300 PK-NUO
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

924 - C-GUVA Continues on to Anadyr, Russia

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

17-Sep-2015

• Nome, AK (PAOM/OME) - Anadyr-Ugolny, Russia (UMHA/DYR)

C-GUVA has filed to continue on to Anadyr today with the flight scheduled to run just over 5 hours.

454 - C-GUZP Heads to Mena for Painting

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

16/17-Sep-2015

• Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW) - Great Falls, MT (KGTF/GTF)
• Great Falls, MT (KGTF/GTF) - Alliance, NE (KAIA/AIA)
• Alliance, NE (KAIA/AIA) - Mena, AR (KMEZ/MEZ)

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

C-GUZP departed Springbank this afternoon bound for Mena, AR where it will be painted. The aircraft had arrived back in Canada via shipping container after an accident in the Maldives in Jul-2012. It can be seen in the photo below approximately a month ago, with thanks to Reinhard Zinabold and just prior to departure this afternoon in the second photo.

MSN 454 - DHC-6-300 C-GUZP
Ashe Aircraft Enterprises Ltd.
Springbank, AB 14-Aug-2015
Reinhard Zinabold Photo

MSN 454 - DHC-6-300 C-GUZP
Ashe Aircraft Enterprises Ltd.
Springbank, AB 16-Sep-2015

924 - C-GUVA Scheduled to Depart Anchorage for Nome

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

16-Sep-2015

• Anchorage, AK (PANC/ANC) - Nome, AK (PAOM/OME)

After having arrived in Anchorage on 13-Sep-2015, C-GUVA is today filed for departure to Nome, AK as it continues on delivery to Airfast Indonesia. It had earlier flight planned for direct to Anadyr, Russia.

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

389 N288SA Departs Rutherfordton, NC on Delivery to Indonesia

389 - DHC-6-300 N288SA Montecito New York LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (CAAMS Leasing)

16-Sep-2015

• Rutherfordton, NC (KFQD/FQD) - Macomb, IL (KMQB/MQB)
• Macomb, IL (KMQB/MQB) - Ainsworth, NE (KANW/ANW)

N288SA has departed the CAAMS MRO facility in Rutherfordton, NC today at the start of its delivery flight to Indonesia. The aircraft's initial routing will see it position to McMinnville, OR where ferry tanks will be installed, and then on to Honolulu, Majuro, Pohnpei and Biak.

The aircraft is seen below prior to departure, having had CAAMS Leasing titles added, as well as a small Dimonim Air logo on the tail.

MSN 389 - DHC-6-300 N288SA
Montecito New York LLC (CAAMS Leasing)
Rutherfordton, NC Sep-2015
CAAMS Photo

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

A Global Group for Sunday - Chile, Indonesia and Croatia

A nice surprise up in Collingwood, ON yesterday was MSN 793 CC-PQQ, with thanks to Gary Gentle.

MSN 793 - DHC-6-300 CC-PQQ
Barrick Chile
Collingwood, ON 12-Sep-2015
Gary Gentle Photo

Some two weeks after arriving in Biak on delivery to Dimonimair, MSN 620 is seen below in the midst of being painted, and already carrying its new ident PK-HVM. The U.S. registration (N888PV)

will be cancelled prior to it flying in Indonesia. Dimonimair's second Twin Otter, MSN 389 N288SA is expected to be ferried to Biak shortly. 

MSN 620 - DHC-6-300 PK-HVM
Dimonimair
Biak, Indonesia 12-Sep-2015

European Coastal took delivery of MSN 244 9A-TOB on 03-Sep-2015, and the aircraft is seen below at Split, Croatia. 

MSN 244 - DHC-6-300 9A-TOB
European Coastal Airlines
Split, Croatia 03-Sep-2015
ECA Photo

The second Series 400 to depart Victoria in the past couple days, Airfast's MSN 924 C-GUVA is now bound for Jakarta on delivery. On 11-Sep-2015, MSN 926 C-GUVT left for Springbank for ferry tank installation, and onward delivery to Tara Air in Kathmandu.  C-GUVA is being delivered by Viking Air, while C-GUVT is being flown by Worldwide Ferry. Air Seychelles MSN 927 C-GVOT will also be delivered by Worldwide Ferry shortly.

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

12-Sep-2015

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Comox, BC (CYQQ/YQQ)

13-Sep-2015

• Comox, BC (CYQQ/YQQ) - Anchorage, AK (PANC/ANC)

MSN 924 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVA
Viking Air (Airfast Indonesia)
Victoria, BC 04-Jun-2015
Tim Martin Photo

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

926 C-GUVT Departs Victoria on Delivery to Nepal

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

11-Sep-2015

• Victoria, BC (CYYJ/YYJ) - Springbank, AB (CYBW/YBW)

The second series 400 for Tara Air of Nepal is scheduled to depart Victoria shortly. The first sector will take it to Springbank, AB for installation of ferry tanks.

The aircraft is being delivered by Calgary-based Worldwide Ferry.

MSN 926 - DHC-6-400 C-GUVT
Viking Air (Tara Air)
Victoria, BC 21-Aug-2015
Tim Martin Photo

766 C-GKPV Continues to Biak, Indonesia

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

10-Sep-2015

• Majuro, Marshall Islands (PKMJ/MAJ) - Biak, Indonesia (WBKK/BIK)

After a break in Majuro, C-GKPV has resumed its delivery flight to Indonesia. At the time of writing the aircraft was climbing through about 7,000ft to the west of the Marshall Islands.

Hevilift DHC-6-300 MSN 706 P2-KSI at Cairns

Hevilift's DHC-6-300 MSN 706 P2-KSI is seen below on arrival in Cairns. The aircraft positioned down from Port Moresby, likely for maintenance work at Hevilift's engineering facility in Cairns.

Thanks to FNQ Skies for the photo below.

MSN 706 - DHC-6-300 P2-KSI
Hevilift
Cairns, QLD 09-Sep-2015
FNQ Skies Photo

Accident Report

181 - DHC-6-200 N181CS FHC Group LLC, Colorado Springs, CO (Rampart Aviation)

06-Sep-2015

Aircraft impacted trees at the Franklinton/North Raleigh, NC airport. This is the Rampart Aviation owned facility to the west of Louisburg, NC. Two of the three onboard were injured.

389 N288SA Set to Depart on Delivery, 766 C-GKPV Delivery Update & 919 RA-67286 Enters Service

389 - DHC-6-300 N288SA Montecito New York LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (CAAMS Leasing)

07-Sep-2015 Planned

• Rutherfordton, NC (KFQD/FQD) - Keokuk, IA (KEOK/EOK)
• Keokuk, IA (KEOK/EOK) - Ainsworth, NE (KANW/ANW)

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz

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

Although the aircraft had filed to continue on from Majuro to Biak, Indonesia yesterday it has remained on the ground in the Marshall Islands. An updated departure plan will be posted once it becomes available.

Chukotavia's DHC-6-400 RA-67286 (MSN 919) officially entered service with the carrier on 04-Sep-2015 and is seen below at Anadyr, Russia.

MSN 919 - DHC-6-400 RA-67286
Chukotavia
Anadyr-Ugolny, Russia Sep-2015
Mikhail Mardamshin Photo

923 - C-FVGY Continues from Guam to Chuuk, Honiara and Nadi

923 - DHC-6-400 C-FVGY Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

04-Sep-2015

• Guam (PGUM/GUM) - Chuuk-Int'l (PTKK/TKK)

05-Sep-2015

• Chuuk-Int'l (PTKK/TKK) - Honiara, Solomons (AGGH/HIR)
• Honiara, Solomons (AGGH/HIR) - Nadi, Fiji (NFFN/NAN)

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz