To Provide Auditing, Engineering Support, Training & Factory Spares For Overhaul Of Nine Legacy Twin Otter Aircraft

Embargo Until July 11, 2012

The Administracion Aeronautica Argentina (AAA) has awarded Viking Air Limited of Victoria, BC a contract valued up to $15M over four years for project oversight on repairs and modifications to the country’s fleet of nine legacy Twin Otter aircraft.

Viking will supply the AAA with project oversight, auditing, engineering support, maintenance training, component overhaul, avionics modernization and factory spares for the duration of the contract carried out on the Argentina Air Force and Army’s legacy Twin Otter aircraft. The work will be carried out over the next four years by Argentina Air Force personnel at the Argentine Air Force base in Quilmes, just south of Buenos Aires, with on-site project management and technical support provided by Viking MRO representatives. Viking will also provide spare parts, hardware, components, modification kits, avionics, and technical documentation required to facilitate the work, which includes the completion of “C” Checks and incorporation of major modifications, Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins. The contract also includes Viking engineering support with respect to repair and modification of aircraft, as well as all necessary maintenance training.

“Over the past several years we have built up a strong partnership with the Argentine Air Force on projects conducted at both our facility in Victoria and their base in Quilmes,” commented Robert Mauracher, Viking vice president Business Development and general manager MRO, “so we are extremely pleased to have been awarded this additional in-country support and services contract.” He added, “As the Twin Otter OEM, we are focused on sustaining the life cycle support needs of legacy operators through our dedicated MRO and ATLAS (Aircraft Technical Liaison and Support) customer support teams.”

With Twin Otter Series 400 sales in 16 countries and a backlog exceeding $400M, the Series 400 is now confirmed as the best selling next generation19 passenger aircraft available today. 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.

(Images provided by Viking Air)

FMI: www.vikingair.com