New Twin Otter takes Flight

Posted on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT

The first new Twin Otter in over tow decades takes flight since de Havilland Ceased production. Back in 1988 Canadian supplemental type certification is expected and just weeks after Viking Air opened its new 84,000-square-foot facility in Victoria, British Columbia, to support production of the DHC-6 Series Twin Otter, along with ongoing customer support of de Havilland legacy aircraft.

The aircraft, Canadian registration C-FMJO, carries the manufacturer’s serial number (MSN) 845; the first of the new line of Twin Otters will be delivered to Zimex Aviation of Switzerland. The Zimex Twin Otter is equipped with a Honeywell Apex IFR digital flight deck and configured with a commuter interior for use throughout North Africa for the oil and gas industry. The Canadian registration was in commemoration of former Viking board member Michael J. Orr.

Viking has made and supplied components for de Havilland for decades but in 2006 acquired the type certificates for seven vintage models, including the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, and the DCH-6 Twin Otter. Viking expects to win Canadian certification shortly and begin deliveries soon thereafter. Company officials estimate the backlog for the Twin Otter has reached $200 million.

This article was compiled by resident aviation news editor James Abbey with excerpts taken from an Article from By Kerry Lynch of Aviation week magazine.

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