On February 12th, Canadian aircraft manufacturer and parts supplier Viking Air announced that a purchase agreement had been reached with First Flying (DAK) for a pair of DHC-6-400 Twin Otter turboprop airliners. They will become the Japanese launch customer for the revamped new-generation version of the venerable STOL (Short TakeOff and Landing) aircraft originally developed by de Havilland Canada back in 1964.
First Flying will take delivery of both in early 2015. Configured with standard 19 seats, the new aircraft will be deployed on their island-hopping flights in the Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures, in the southernmost region of Japan. First Flying currently flies Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) - Aguni (AGJ/RORA) and Naha - Okinoerabu (OKE/RJKB) - Tokunoshima (TKN/RJKN) with a trio of Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islanders, and the DHC-6-400s are expected to be replacements.
After purchasing all type certificates from Bombardier Aerospace for all out-of-production models from the DHC-1 to the DHC-7, Viking Air started offering the DHC-6-400 in July 2006. The revamped STOL turboprop boasts more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34/35 engines, Honeywell Primus Apex fully-integrated avionics, deletion of the AC electrical system and beta backup system, modernization of the electrical and lighting system, and composites for non-load-bearing structures such as doors.
Source: FlyTeam, February 12th. (in Japanese)
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| Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander JA5325 arrives at Aguni. (Photo: Ryosuke Yano) |
First Flying will take delivery of both in early 2015. Configured with standard 19 seats, the new aircraft will be deployed on their island-hopping flights in the Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures, in the southernmost region of Japan. First Flying currently flies Okinawa/Naha (OKA/ROAH) - Aguni (AGJ/RORA) and Naha - Okinoerabu (OKE/RJKB) - Tokunoshima (TKN/RJKN) with a trio of Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islanders, and the DHC-6-400s are expected to be replacements.
After purchasing all type certificates from Bombardier Aerospace for all out-of-production models from the DHC-1 to the DHC-7, Viking Air started offering the DHC-6-400 in July 2006. The revamped STOL turboprop boasts more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34/35 engines, Honeywell Primus Apex fully-integrated avionics, deletion of the AC electrical system and beta backup system, modernization of the electrical and lighting system, and composites for non-load-bearing structures such as doors.
Source: FlyTeam, February 12th. (in Japanese)
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