368 - C-FMRI Officially Registered in Canada

368 - DHC-6-300 C-FMRI Gravitas Aviation Ltd., West Vancouver, BC

Officially  registered 23-Dec-2015. C-FMRI was delivered from Mexico City to Calgary ON 28-Nov-2015

C-GFAP Delivered to Rosneft

First Series 400 Handed Over to Rosneft at Krasnoyarsk

Sterling Glessing Photo

Item Courtesy of Russian Aviation Insider

The first DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 turboprop ordered by Russia’s government-owned oil company Rosneft arrived at Krasnoyarsk on December 23. The second airframe of the type produced by Viking Air has completed acceptance procedures and will be ferried from Canada to Siberia early in 2016, a source told Russian Aviation Insider.

The aircraft is accepted and ferried to Russia by AeroGeo airline, which won Rosneft’s tender for the services in November. RN-Aircraft, Rosneft’s corporate aircraft operator signed the deal with Viking Air in August, according to which the batch of ten 19-seat aircraft will be delivered to Russia before the end of the next year. The aircraft will be used to carry shift workers to oil fields in Krasnoyarsk region, and may enter service in the first half of 2016.

Rosneft has not yet decided on the operator of the DHC-6s. RN-Aircraft does not have an Air Operator Certificate, the source said. Besides the AeroGeo, there another candidate for the job, Surgut-based air carrier Skol, which has an affiliate in Krasnoyarsk. AeroGeo already disposes of trained staff and a maintenance center approved for servicing Pratt & Whitney Canada РТ6А-34 engines. It was also the only participant in RN-Aircraft’s tenders for maintenance of the aircraft and storage of spares and tooling for the DHC-6s. The contracts for the total of $280,000 were signed in December.

Skol has just started to train its specialists for the type operation.

Photos from Costa Rica and Indonesia

MSN 169 TI-ATZ has returned to service in Costa Rica after having been parked for some time. It has also received a new paint scheme as well. This aircraft was originally delivered to Aero Commuter of Long Beach in 1968, and came to Costa Rica in 1993. 

MSN 169 - DHC-6-200 TI-ATZ
Aviones Taxi Aéreo S.A.
San Jose, Costa Rica 17-Dec-2015
Tomas Cubero Maingot Photo

MSN 389 PK-HVN is seen in the hangar at Biak, having received the Dimonim Air paint scheme (matching PK-HVM). The aircraft is expected to enter service in Jan-2016.

MSN 389 - DHC-6-300 PK-HVN
Dimonim Air
Biak-Frans Kaisiepo, Indonesia Dec-2015
Dimonim Air

928 C-GFAP Arrives in Krasnoyarsk

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

22-Dec-2015

• Yakutsk, Russia (UEEE/YKS) - Krasnoyarsk-Yemelyanovo, Russia (UNKL/KJA)

Skydive Dubai Update

96 - DHC-6-200HG™ N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

Registration cancelled 11-Dec-2015 on export to the United Arab Emirates for Skydive Dubai.


920 - DHC-6-400 N903VK Bank of Utah Trustee, Salt Lake City, UT

Registration cancelled 30-Nov-2015 and registered to Skydive Dubai 30-Nov-2015 as DU-SD1 as can be seen in the photo below.

Photo: Ribsdaman

869 - N153QS Arrives, and Departs Cairns

869 - DHC-6-400 N153QS Wells Fargo Bank NW, Salt Lake City, UT

21-Dec-2015

• Cairns, QLD (YBCS/CNS) - Groote Eylandt, NT (YGTE)
• Groote Eylandt, NT (YGTE) - Darwin, NT (YPDN/DRW)

Today N153QS has filed to continue on from Cairns to Groote Eylandt, NT which is located about 50km offshore the Northern Territory in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and then on to Darwin.

The aircraft can be seen below on arrival in Cairns, with photos courtesy of Paul Howard and the FNQ Skies blog.

MSN 869 - DHC-6-400 N153QS
Wells Fargo Bank NW
Cairns, QLD 20-Dec-2015
Paul Howard Photo

MSN 869 - DHC-6-400 N153QS
Wells Fargo Bank NW
Cairns, QLD 20-Dec-2015
FNQ Skies Photo

Lastly, a shot of the ramp at Skytek in Cairns showing Hevilift's P2-KSI (MSN 706) and Solomons H4-SID (MSN 442), the latter of which being without engines. H4-SID has been present in Cairns since arriving from Honiara back on 29-Sep-2015.

Cairns Ramp with H4-SID and P2-KSI
20-Dec-2015
FNQ Skies Photo

933 - C-GFVT Exits the Paintshop & Departs to Victoria

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

18-Dec-2015

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

MSN 933 C-GFVT has left the paint shop in Spokane and was delivered to Victoria yesterday. As can be seen in  the photo below, it carries the same scheme MSN 932, the original generic Russian colours.

MSN 933 - DHC-6-400 C-GFVT
Viking Air
Victoria, BC 19-Dec-2015
Tim Martin Photo

928 C-GFAP Continues from Magadan

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

18-Dec-2015

• Magadan-Sokol, Russia (UHMM/GDX) - Yakutsk, Russia (UEEE/YKS)

869 - N153QS Arrives in Brisbane, QLD

I haven't run a photo of MSN 869 in quite some time, primarily as it normally stays within its home waters between Fiji and New Caledonia. Yesterday however if flew from Nouméa to Brisbane, QLD where it was caught courtesy of the Brisbane Aircraft Movements blog.  Today the aircraft has filed to continue on to Cairns, QLD.

The aircraft remains trustee registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest in Salt Lake City, operated by owners from California, and normally based in Nadi, Fiji.

MSN 869 - DHC-6-400 N153QS
Wells Fargo Bank NW
Bribane, QLD 19-Dec-2015
Lloyd Fox Photo

869 - DHC-6-400 N153QS Wells Fargo Bank NW, Salt Lake City, UT

19-Dec-2015

• Nouméa, New Caledonia (NWWW/NOU) - Brisbane, QLD (YBBN/BNE)

20-Dec-2015

• Bisbane, QLD (YBBN/BNE) - Cairns, QLD (YBCS/CNS)

Pictures from Nunavut, B.C. & Ontario, New Registration for 613 and a couple of 400 Updates

A Twin Otter always looks best in an off airport environment, and the shot below from Norm Grist of C-GKCJ is a perfect example. Taken on Akpatok Island, Nunavut which is located in Ungava Bay south of Baffin Island. Many thanks to Norm for the contribution.

MSN 698 - DHC-6-300 C-GKCJ
Air Inuit
Akpatok Island, NU 02-Aug-2007
Norman Grist Photo

613 - DHC-6-300 PJ-WCC Winair, Saint Maarten

Registered 16-Dec-2015, ex C-FKBK


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

18-Dec-2015

• Anadyr-Ugolny, Russia (UHMA/DYR) - Magadan-Sokol, Russia (UHMM/GDX)

932 - DHC-6-400 C-FMJO Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

09-Dec-2015

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

I just noticed that I hadn't previously shown the Spokane-Victoria sector from 09-Dec-2015 for 932, so it is included for the record. Tim managed to catch the aircraft returning from a compass swing yesterday, although the weather wasn't that great at the time. As you can see, it is another aircraft destined for Russia in the generic first style colour scheme.

MSN 932 - DHC-6-400 C-FMJO
Viking Air
Victoria, BC 17-Dec-2015
Tim Martin Photo

A beautiful shot of the MNR DHC-6-300 C-FOPI from Reinhard Zinabold taken yesterday at Hamilton, ON. The aircraft had arrived from Sault Ste Marie on 15-Dec-2015.

MSN 243 - DHC-6-300 C-FOPI
Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources
Hamilton, ON 17-Dec-2015
Reinhard Zinabold Photo

928 - C-GFAP Continues from Anchorage

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

16-Dec-2015

• Anchorage, AK (PANC/ANC) - Anadyr-Ugolny, Russia (UHMA/DYR)

C-GFAP left Anchorage this afternoon bound for Anadyr, and at the time of writing the aircraft is just south of Unalakleet, AK.

613 - C-FKBK Cancelled to Saint Maarten

613 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBK Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

Registration cancelled 16-Dec-2015 to Saint Maarten. This aircraft arrived in Philipsburg on 13-Dec-2015 on delivery to Winair.

928 - C-GFAP Departs on Delivery to Rosneft

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

15-Dec-2015

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

The first Series 400 for delivery to Russia's Rosneft has departed on delivery, it is expected to be joined by the second before the end of the year. It can be seen below at Victoria, courtesy of Tim Martin.

MSN 928 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP
Viking Air Ltd.
Victoria, BC 30-Nov-2015
Tim Martin Photo

874 - C-FOAE Seen in Taipei 15-Dec-2015

Former Regent Airways DHC-6-400 C-FOAE (ex S2-AHE) has turned up in Taipei at the mainly domestic airport of Songshan. As seen below, the aircraft still carries Regent colours however the titles have been covered with a Twin Otter Series 400 sticker, and of course it carries the new Canadian registration. The aircraft is in the process of being returned to the lessor.

MSN 874 - DHC-6-400 C-FOAE
Planes & Parts Ltd.
Taipei-Songshan, Taiwan 15-Dec-2015
Jeff Chang Photo

613 - C-FKBK Arrives in Saint Maarten for Winair

613 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBK Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

11/13-Dec-2015

• Spencer, IA (KSPW/SPW) - Cape Girardeau, MO (KCGI/CGI)
• Cape Girardeau, MO (KCGI/CGI) - Albany, GA (KABY/ABY)
• Albany, GA (KABY/ABY) - Fort Lauderdale-Executive, FL (KFXE/FXE)
• Fort Lauderdale-Executive, FL (KFXE/FXE) - Nassau, Bahamas (MYNN/NAS)
• Nassau, Bahamas (MYNN/NAS) - Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (MBPV/PLS)
• Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (MBPV/PLS) - San Juan-Isla Grande, PR (TJIG/SIG)
• San Juan-Isla Grande, PR (TJIG/SIG) - Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten (TNCM/SXM)

Catching up with C-FKBK as it completed its delivery flight to Winair, the aircraft has now arrived in Saint Maarten. The next change is expected to be the cancellation of the Canadian registration. The aircraft is seen below at Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, with thanks to Juan Carlos Photography.

MSN 613 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBK
Kenn Borek Air
San Juan-Isla Grande, PR 13-Dec-2015
Juan Carlos Aponte Photo

454 - C-GUZP Cancelled to Indonesia for PT Spirit Avia Sentosa

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

Registration cancelled 11-Dec-2015 to PK-

613 - C-FKBK Departs Calgary on Delivery

613 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBK Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

11-Dec-2015

• Calgary-Int'l, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Williston, ND (KISN/ISN)
• Williston, ND (KISN/ISN) - Spencer, IA (KSPW/SPW)

After initially being filed for departure yesterday, C-FKBK has today departed Calgary en route to Williston and Spencer, IA. As with MSN 793 C-FKBU which departed Calgary on 21-Nov-2015, the expected destination for C-FKBK is Saint Maarten.

613 - C-FKBK Test Flown from Calgary Prior to Departure

613 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBK Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB

10-Dec-2015 Planned

• Calgary-Int'l, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Williston, ND (KISN/ISN)

The planned flight above did not occur as scheduled, and later in the day the aircraft was noted being test-flown on a local flight from Calgary.

96 - N901RT Arrives in Dubai

96 - DHC-6-200HG N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

09-Dec-2015

Hurghada, Egypt (HEGN/HRG) - Dubai-Nad Al Sheba

Today, N901RT has flown from Hurghada to the Emirate of Dubai, where it has landed at a private air strip south of the Nad Al Sheba Palace.

Viking Series 400 Introduced on New Routes from Vladivostok

Twin Otter Series 400 Allows Aurora to Restore Regional Routes from Vladivostok

After an interruption of 23-years, on 17-Nov-2015 Aurora has restored scheduled service from Vladivostok to Dalnerechensk, the oldest and most northern town of Primorsky Krai. The flight operates twice weekly, using the Twin Otter Series 400, with a flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. 

The carrier has also introduced the Viking Series 400 Twin Otter to the Vladivostok - Dalnegorsk route with effect from 04-Dec-2015. The twice-weekly service restores the air link between the two cities following a hiatus of nearly twenty years.

Due to local demand, Aurora will also use the Twin Otter for flights from Vladivostok to Kavalerovo during December.

Two Newest Series 400's Registered

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

Registered 08-Dec-2015


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

Registered 08-Dec-2015

792 - C-GKKN Cancelled to Saint Vincent

792 - DHC-6-300 C-GKKN Unity Group Ltd., Airdrie, AB

Registration cancelled 08-Dec-2015 to Saint Vincent; this aircraft was delivered to SVG Air on 23-Nov-2015, and became J8-UNI. (see blog entry for 25-Nov-2015)

96 - N901RT Continues to Egypt

96 - DHC-6-200HG™ N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

08-Dec-2015

• Dubrovnik, Croatia (LDDU/DBV) - Hurghada, Egypt (HEGN/HRG)

N901RT has today continued on from Dubrovnik, and at the time of writing is descending towards Hurghada.

Twin Otters for WestWind, N901RT in Dubrovnik, C-FOAE Registered

WestWind Aviation of Saskatoon, SK has announced the acquisition of aircraft and facility assets from La Ronge-based Osprey Wings Ltd.

Included in the sale are four Twin Otters (as well as a single Beech 200, and two Beech 1900's) and Osprey employees have joined the WestWind organization. At this time, none of the former Osprey aircraft have yet been re-registered to WestWind, however that information will be published once it becomes available.

Coincidentally however today is the first time that the previous Osprey Twin Otter aircraft are appearing on flight trackers using the WestWind WEW designator. Previously, the Osprey aircraft had operated using their registrations as call signs.

48 - DHC-6-100 N202EH Skydive Factory Inc., Rochester, NH

Sold to JST Management LLC, Zephyrhills, FL 01-Nov-2015, and registered 01-Dec-2015 (see blog entry for 20-Nov-2015)

96 - DHC-6-200HG N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

06/07-Dec-2015

• Keflavík, Iceland (BIKF/KEF) - Malmö, Sweden (ESMS/MMX)
• Malmö, Sweden (ESMS/MMX) - Dubrovnik, Croatia (LDDU/DBV)

N901RT continues to make its way toward its final destination, and in the past two days has flown from Iceland to Croatia.

874 - DHC-6-400 C-FOAE Planes & Parts Ltd., Turner Valley, AB

Registered 04-Dec-2015, ex S2-AHE

Planes & Parts (World Wide Ferry) will be responsible for bringing the aircraft out of Bangladesh on behalf of its lessor.

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

Registration cancelled 30-Nov-2015 to United Arab Emirates

793 - PJ-WCB at Saba

The former C-FKBU (which was cancelled to Saint Maarten a few days ago) is seen below at Saba preparing for departure back to base, carrying its new registration PJ-WCB.

MSN 793 - DHC-6-300 PJ-WCB
Winair
Saba-Juancho Yrausquin 05-Dec-2015
Camrone Hassell Photo

96 N901RT Continues to Iceland, Series 400 Registration Changes

96 - DHC-6-200HG™ N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

05-Dec-2015

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

After a couple day stay in Iqaluit, N901RT has resumed its delivery flight and is currently en route to Keflavík with a planned flight time of 7 hrs and 45 mins.

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

851 - DHC-6-400 P2-HFE Helifix Ltd., Port Moresby, NCD, PNG

Registered 01-Dec-2015, ex HB-LPY (see blog entry for 02-Dec-2015)


874 - DHC-6-400 C-FOAE Planes & Parts Ltd., Turner Valley, AB

Registered 04-Dec-2015, ex S2-AHE. (see blog entry for 02-Dec-2015)

344 - C-FOPJ in Sioux Lookout, 874 - S2-AHE Returns to Canada

A nice shot of the MNR DHC-6-300 C-FOPJ taken this morning at Sioux Lookout, ON by Rich Hulina.

MSN 344 - DHC-6-300 C-FOPJ
Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources
Sioux Lookout, ON 03-Dec-2015
Rich Hulina Photo

874 - DHC-6-400 S2-AHE Regent Airways, Dhaka

Officially imported to Canada 02-Dec-2015; the return to Canada of S2-AHE reportedly follows the termination of the Chevron Bangladesh contract. The aircraft was originally delivered to Dhaka in Sept-2013.

The aircraft is seen below at Nis, Serbia on 16-Sep-2013 as it was being delivered to Bangladesh by World Wide Ferry.

96 N901RT Continues to Iqaluit, 851 HB-LPY Cancelled to P2-

96 - DHC-6-200HG™ N901RT Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

02-Dec-2015

• Churchill, MB (CYYQ/YYQ) - Iqaluit, NU (CYFB/YFB)

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

851 - DHC-6-400 HB-LPY Zimex Aviation, Glattbrugg (Helifix, Port Moresby, PNG)

Registration cancelled 01-Dec-2015 to P2-

793 C-FKBU Cancelled to Saint Maarten

793 - DHC-6-300 C-FKBU Kenn Borek Air Ltd., Calgary, AB

Registration cancelled 01-Dec-2015 on export to Saint Maarten as PJ-WCB

928 C-GFAP at Victoria Yesterday, Deliveries for N901RT and C-GUZP, 933 Heads to Painting

With thanks to Tim in Victoria, the other Rosneft airplane C-GFAP seen yesterday.

MSN 928 - DHC-6-400 C-GFAP
Viking Air (Rosneft)
Victoria, BC 30-Nov-2015
Tim Martin Photo

96 - DHC-6-200HG™ Ikhana Group Inc., Murrieta, CA

01-Dec-2015

• Calgary-Int'l, AB (CYYC/YYC) - Churchill, MB (CYYQ/YYQ)

N901RT has filed to depart from Calgary this morning, with an initial sector to Churchill, MB. The aircraft is being delivered by Calgary's World Wide Ferry.

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

01-Dec-2015

• Majuro, Marshall Islands (PKMJ/MAJ) - Biak-Frans Kaiseipo, Indonesia (WABB/BIK)

C-GUZP is scheduled to fly the final sector on to Biak today, completing the delivery flight from Canada in five days. The aircraft has been delivered by Calgary's World Wide Ferry.



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

01-Dec-2015

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

C-GFVT is scheduled to depart for painting today; this flight had originally been planned for last night.