Contract To include Aircraft, Flight, Maintenance Training And Spares

Viking Air of Victoria, BC, Canada and Malaysia Airlines, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have signed an agreement for six DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft for operation by Malaysia Airlines’ subsidiary, MASwings. MASwings will become the first Malaysian-based operator of the new Viking Twin Otter Series 400, making it the nineteenth country to be added to the expanding global customer list.

The six new Series 400 Twin Otters are scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2014, and will be utilized for regional commuter operations based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The new aircraft will be added to MASwings’ existing fleet of legacy Twin Otter aircraft, which have a 25 year proven track record for reliability, durability and suitability with MASwings’ theater of operations in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, the two Malaysian states in Borneo.

The Series 400 Twin Otters will be configured with a fully IFR Honeywell Primus Apex digital avionics suite, complete with two primary and one secondary GPS backed navigation system, Flight Management System TAWS, TCAS I, and EGPWS. With this aircraft purchase, MASwings will be the launch airline for Latitude Technologies SkyNode and IONode, an Iridium satellite communication package with WiFi enabled flight data acquisition, recording and reporting aircraft trend monitoring system. Also included in the six aircraft purchase agreement are flight and maintenance training, along with a comprehensive spares support package.

Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Hj Awang, CEO of MASwings, commented that “as a long time legacy aircraft operator, the Viking Series 400 won us over because of its exceptional performance, great operating economics, and the additional safety features offered by the integrated digital avionics suite. With the new satellite based navigational facilities fitted onboard, the operational and safety level will be greatly enhanced.”

Robert Mauracher, Viking vice president Business Development and general manager Maintenance Repair Organization, commented “Viking is particularly pleased to add Malaysia Airlines and MASwings to the Series 400 operator family. As our first Flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines has once again confirmed the Viking Series 400 Twin Otter as the best choice for utility regional transport in support of remote communities.”

With Twin Otter Series 400 in operation in 14 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)

(Editors' note: This release originally carried an embargo date of February 7. We received notice of a change in that embargo after our newsletter on that date had been distributed.)

FMI: www.vikingair.com