Papua New Guinea, Turkey, Nigeria, Chile, Tahiti and Panama
Added To International Sales List
In addition to the prior announcement of delivery to Papua, New
Guinea, Tahiti, Turkey, Nigeria, Chile, and Panama have all been
added early in 2012 to the growing international list of Twin Otter
Series 400 sales, totaling fifteen aircraft amongst the six
countries and bringing the Series 400 Type Certificate recognized
country total to fifteen.
Seabird Airlines DHC-6-300 Twin
Otter
Seabird Airlines of Istanbul, Turkey have signed a
multi-aircraft deal along with an exclusive sales representative
agreement covering Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft sales in Turkey.
The package deal was announced yesterday at the Singapore
International Air Show, and covers six aircraft configured with
straight floats for water based commercial operations. The first
aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2014.
Caverton Helicopters of Lagos, Nigeria has added the African
country to growing Twin Otter Series 400 demographics. The company
currently operates two of the legacy Twin Otter aircraft for
passenger transfer, and will be adding a new Series 400 to the
roster later this year. This will be the first Series 400 aircraft
to operate in western Africa.
An undisclosed customer has signed, at list price, a $28 million
deal for four new aircraft, destined for Chile and Peru. While the
Series 400 currently in operation in Peru, it will be a new type
and the first of its kind for the Chile based operation. Rounding
out the expanding international customer list is the sale of one
float equipped Series 400 to an undisclosed VIP customer in Panama
and one wheel equipped Series 400 Twin Otter to an undisclosed VIP
customer in Tahiti, making them the fifth and sixth new countries
for the type announced in 2012.
“The growing list of international customers is market
validation and approval for the new Twin Otter Series 400,”
said Robert Mauracher, Viking’s vice president Business
Development. He adds, “the aircraft’s popularity with
our new customers is due to its operational versatility, quick
change interior and internal passenger to cargo
flexibility.”
The growing popularity of the Series 400 Twin Otter around the
world is largely due to its ability to operate from remote and
unimproved airfields in any operating environment, due to its
robust design and equalized maintenance program. It features many
modifications that improve safety and increase performance over the
Series 300 Twin Otter, the most notable of which is the integration
of the Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite. Other changes include
upgraded Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 engines, use of composite
materials, light weight interior, simplified electrical and LED
lighting systems, as well as value added options such as de-ice and
air-conditioning.