Skytruck Announces First Commercial Sales
Skytruck Company says it's made the first two commercial sales
of its recently certified M28 Skytruck. Dave Jenkins,
Skytruck�s Director of sales, says the initial orders are
for four new aircraft by Air Guyane/Air Antilles Express operating
within the Caribbean. The contracts also have options for an
additional four aircraft to be delivered in 2006 to Air Guyane.
Jenkins also announced that Vieques Air Link of Puerto Rico has
signed a contract for one Skytruck, with an option for a second
aircraft.
"The versatility and value offered by the Skytruck continues to
attract Twin-Otter operators throughout the islands and around the
world that need a replacement aircraft which provides the true STOL
performance, twin-engine safety, and low acquisition and operating
costs of the Skytruck." Jenkins said.
The sales were handled through Skytruck France SARI, the
authorized dealer for the French Overseas Territories. After
returning from the recent two-week, 15-country M28 Skytruck sales
tour of the Caribbean, Andre Hiebeler, Vice President of Skytruck
France SARI said, "Christian Marchand, President of Air Guyane, was
so impressed with the Skytruck�s demonstrated STOL
performance that he placed the order for the aircraft on the
spot."
Air Guyane has scheduled delivery of their Skytrucks to begin in
June of 2005 and will put the aircraft into scheduled service
immediately thereafter. The aircraft will be completed in a
19-place, multi-purpose configuration to accommodate the
airline�s need to transport passengers and freight, as well
as be able to be quickly reconfigured for Medevac operations. The
aircraft will also be equipped with the latest Chelton 3-screen
EFIS systems, integrated with TCAS II to be in compliance with JAR
OPS 1. This will be the first Chelton application for commercial
aircraft operations by Skytruck.
Vieques Air Link will take delivery of their first Skytruck in
May of 2005. "The Skytruck is ideally suited for our inter-island
operations," explained Captain Francisco Cruz, Director of
Operations for Vieques Air Link. "It provides a rugged, reliable
design with state-of-the-art systems that will allow us to provide
comfort and safety to our passengers." Like the Air Guyane
aircraft, Vieques Air Link has ordered its Skytrucks with Chelton
displays and "highway-in-the-sky" capabilities.
With its pair of 1,100 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6-65B
engines, the Skytruck can get 19 passengers or 5,070 pounds of
cargo in and out of unimproved landing strips as short as 850 feet
making it ideal for operations throughout the Caribbean.
"Every operator that saw and flew the Skytruck came away really
impressed," Jenkins said. "Dollar for dollar, there�s not
another new aircraft that can match what it can do."