Twin Otter Update for 19-Dec-2016

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

Registration cancelled 16-Dec-2016 on export to People's Republic of China. Aircraft was delivered across the North Pacific on 19/20-Oct-2016 to Reignwood Air.

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

As can happen at this time of year, the delivery of C-FVGY to Russia has encountered some delays along the way. The aircraft flew Victoria, BC - Comox, BC - Prince Rupert, BC - Anchorage, AK on 10/11-Dec-2016. A local test flight from Anchorage was undertaken on 15-Dec-2016, and finally on 18-Dec-2016 after initially filing for direct to Anadyr, it flew Anchorage, AK - Nome, AK.

JTSB Issues Accident Report on JA201D.

The accident report for MSN 915 JA201D has now been published. The Safety Recommendations of the Japan Transport Safety Board are as follows:

It is somewhat likely that one cause of this accident was that the FO did not have adequate knowledge of the aircraft system. It is also somewhat likely that the inadequate response of the PIC in the event of an unforeseen situation contributed to the occurrence of this accident. It is probable that these resulted from the fact that ground training and flight training stipulated by the Company were not carried out properly. 

In order to contribute to preventing the recurrence of similar accidents, based on the result of investigation of the accident, the Japan Transport Safety Board recommends, in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 Paragraph 1 of the Act for Establishment of the Japan Transport Safety Board, that First Flying Co., Ltd. give careful consideration to the following and take necessary measures thereof: 

Ascertain the current situation of ground training and flight training correctly, and then improve its system for training to enable the stipulated training to be carried out properly. 

The full report can be viewed at the following link (it is in English):

http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/eng-air_report/JA201D.pdf

Skybus Continues DHC-6 Upgrade with Aeroplastics Interior Kit

Skybus continues to refurbish their Twin Otter and Islander fleets, with the second DHC-6 G-CEWM near completion. The new interior trim is a product of Australia's Aeroplastics and Structures, who are a TwinOtterSpotter advertiser.

The new interior can be seen in the photos below, with thanks to Kevin Rouncefield.

Twin Otter Update for 11-Dec-2016

788 - DHC-6-300 N56RF U.S. Department of Commerce, MacDill AFB, FL

Flew Springbank, AB - Minot, ND 09-Dec-2016 following a check at Rocky Mountain Aircraft. The aircraft had arrived in Springbank back on 07-Oct-2016. It is seen below at Anchorage in May of this year with thanks to Kevin Fortney.

MSN 788 - DHC-6-300 N56RF
U.S. Department of Commerce
Anchorage, AK 31-May-2016
Kevin Fortney Photo

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

Flew Victoria, BC - Comox, BC 10-Dec-2016, and Comox, BC - Prince Rupert, BC - Anchorage, AK 11-Dec-2016 as it makes its way towards Russia for RN Aircraft. The aircraft is seen below at Victoria, on arrival from the paint shop, with thanks to Tim Martin.

MSN 947 - DHC-6-400 C-FVGY
Viking Air (RN Aircraft)
Victoria, BC 06-Oct-2016
Tim Martin Photo

955 - DHC-6-400 C-FVAT Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BC

Registered 09-Dec-2016.


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

Registered 12-Dec-2016.

With thanks to Paul Howard, a nice selection of Fijian Twin Otters below, all taken in the past couple weeks.

MSN 410 - DHC-6-300 DQ-PSE
Fiji Link
Nadi 02-Dec-2016
Paul Howard Photo

MSN 414 - DHC-6-300 DQ-PSD
Fiji Link
Nadi 29-Nov-2016
Paul Howard Photo

MSN 660 - DHC-6-300 DQ-FIE
Fiji Link
Nadi 30-Nov-2016
Paul Howard Photo

MSN 923 - DHC-6-400 DQ-OMO
Walker Corporation/Kokomo Resort
Nadi 28-Nov-2016
Paul Howard Photo

Twin Otter Update for 07-Dec-2016

• The Viking Series 400 Production List has been updated
• The DHC-6 Operators for Africa/Middle East has been updated
• 15:00 - Corrected MSN for Caverton from 937 to 934.

420 - DHC-6-300 HB-LUM Zimex Aviation Ltd., Glattbrugg

Flew Hassi Messaoud - Mahon - Montpellier 07-Dec-2016.

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

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

Repainted into Caverton Helicopters c/s, and noted at Victoria, BC 06-Dec-2016. This aircraft had originally arrived from the paint shop in Spokane 10-Jan-2016 in an all white scheme. This is the second Series 400 for Caverton, joining MSN 864 which was delivered in 2013.

MSN 934 - DHC-6-400 C-GLVA
Caverton Helicopters
Victoria, BC 06-Dec-2016
Tim Martin Photo

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

Flew Calgary-Int'l, AB - Spokane, WA 06-Dec-2016 for painting.

With thanks to Ger Buskermolen, a contribution of Winair's PJ-WIH seen at Beef Island, BVI in 1995. 

MSN 766 - DHC-6-300 PJ-WIH
Winair
Beef Island, BVI 29-Sep-1995
Ger Buskermolen Photo

Twin Otter Update for 05-Dec-2016

Skybus Upgrades Twin Otter Fleet With New Livery & Interior Refresh

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company is making a £530,000 investment in its Skybus fleet of aircraft to include new interiors, enhanced navigation systems and an eye-catching new livery.

Six of the eight-strong fleet will be fitted with brand new interiors including all new trim, carpets and soundproofing in time for the start of the busy holiday season next Easter.Five of the fleet will be entirely repainted, which means stripping the aircraft back to bare metal, while all eight aircraft will be decorated with a new red, white and blue tail fin design.

The upgrades are being carried out between now and next April. This is when the fleet normally undergoes annual maintenance, which takes around four weeks for each aircraft and is phased so there is no disruption to services.

The Skybus fleet has also been fitted with new satellite landing technology called EGNOS which is like satnav for aircraft and will improve operational resilience during times of poor weather.

Rob Goldsmith, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, said: “This is a major investment by the company in improving passenger comfort and operational resilience.

“With five of the fleet due to be repainted we have also taken the opportunity to refresh the appearance of the aircraft with a bright new livery. Our first repainted and upgraded Twin Otter has just returned and more aircraft will follow in the coming months.”

Steamship Group Chairman, Andrew May, added: ‘Our strategic goal is to improve the scheduled transport links with the islands, by both sea and air, over the long term. By this we mean transport links which meet the demands and requirements of our passengers and customers, such that our services are reliable, resilient, of high quality and affordable.’

Over the last five years the Steamship Company has invested £12.5 million in strengthening transport links to the Isles of Scilly, including the acquisition of an eighth Skybus aircraft and most recently a new freight ship, the Mali Rose.

The Skybus fleet is made up of four 19-seater DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft and four eight-seater BN2 Islander aircraft.

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All three of Skydive San Diego's (TAC Air Ops) Twin Otters, and Blackhawk Caravan are seen on the ground at the company field in Jamul, CA (east of San Diego).

The company operates MSN 202 N711AS, MSN 644 N300DZ and MSN 767 N3PY. If anyone has any nice shots of the middle one to contribute, that would be great!

Twin Otter Update for 02-Dec-2016

Viking Announces Skytek as 1st Factory Endorsed Service Centre for Twin Otter Aircraft in Asia-Pacific 

Victoria, British Columbia, December 1st, 2016: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, BC, Canada welcomes Skytek Pty. Ltd. of Cairns, Australia to the Series 400 Twin Otter support network as the first Factory Endorsed Service Centre (“FESC”) in the Asia-Pacific region. Skytek’s location in northern Queensland, combined with their extensive Twin Otter maintenance experience, makes them the ideal choice for a Viking-certified service facility for legacy de Havilland and Series 400 Twin Otter operators in southeast Asia and Australia. 

Over the past 20 years, Skytek have demonstrated an increasing level of dependable Twin Otter maintenance services to a widespread customer base in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar, including Series 400 Twin Otter operators Hevilift and Ok Tedi Development Foundation. 

Stanko Paleksic, Viking’s Technical Support manager, was responsible for conducting a technical audit in support of Skytek’s application for the FESC program. He commented, “Skytek is already the maintenance facility of choice for many of our Series 400 operators, so to have them join our support network as an FESC is a natural progression of our corporate relationship. Skytek’s focus on delivering quality service from their maintenance facility in Australia, as well as the services they provide at customer bases throughout southeast Asia, will be an asset to all Twin Otter operators in the region.” 

The FESC program, administered through Viking’s Global Customer Support group, develops strategic partnerships with specialized industry professionals to provide factory recognized service and warranty repairs for both Viking Series 400 Twin Otters and the legacy de Havilland fleet. 

About Skytek: Based in Cairns, Australia, Skytek is a privately owned company with over 20 years of experience providing support, heavy maintenance, aircraft modifications and component overhaul for both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, including the Series 300 and Series 400 Twin Otter. 

382 - DHC-6-300 C-FUGT Kenn Borek Air Ltd., Calgary, AB

Registered 01-Dec-2016, ex 8Q-IAH.

The ex-Maldivian Twin Otter 8Q-IAF is seen outside the Kenn Borek facility yesterday, after arrival from its return ferry flight. Thanks to Dave Subelack for the photo.

MSN 447 - DHC-6-300 8Q-IAF
Island Aviation Services (Kenn Borek Air)
Calgary-Int'l, AB 01-Dec-2016
Dave Subelack Photo

Air Vanuatu's latest Twin Otter is seen below at Norsup, on Malakula Island. Vanuatu. This is the former P2-KSU, which was delivered to Port Vila on 30-Sep-2016.

MSN 673 - DHC-6-300 YV-AV12
Air Vanuatu
Norsup, Vanuatu
Photo via Christophe Sandoz

Twin Otter Update for 01-Dec-2016

447 - DHC-6-300 8Q-IAF Island Aviation Services, Male (Maldivian)

Updating entry for 30-Nov-2016; flew Iqaluit, NU - Thompson, MB - Calgary-Int'l, AB 30-Nov/01-Dec-2016, returning to Kenn Borek Air after lease. At the time of writing, the aircraft is just north of Drumheller, AB.

As with the previous aircraft (MSN 382) returning from the Maldives, the ferry flight was undertaken by World Wide Ferry of Calgary.

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

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

Flew Spokane, WA - Victoria, BC 01-Dec-2016 after painting.