Company Intros ATLAS Support Division

The US Army recognized Viking's product support service at a recent informal presentation at Viking's Calgary Alberta facility. A certificate of appreciation was presented by Fixed Wing Product Manager, LTC Keith Brown to Viking's product support manager, George Gee.

Specifically, the award recognizes Viking's customer support for the US Army Dash 7 Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA).Flying approximately 15 percent of the current operational de Havilland Canada Dash 7 fleet, the US Army is a major operator, and driving force behind sustaining the aircraft.

Working together with the US Army, Viking has been able to develop strategies for component replacement and reinstate supplier manufacturing programs that have lain dormant for decades. The US Army's award is representative of the success met by Viking to the challenges it faces as the OEM.

In conjunction with the service award, Viking announced the launch of its consolidated customer service offering "ATLAS" (Aircraft Technical Liaison And Support), Viking's global brand for centralized customer-focused support offering spares, technical support, in service engineering, field support, fleet tracking, fleet communications, warranty administration, and technical publications for the entire legacy de Havilland Canada fleet. ATLAS will also be responsible for support of the new Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft, which will enter service this fall.

"We are in a unique position; having a well established product support network sustaining some 1600 airframes ahead of the introduction of a newly manufactured aircraft ensures our ability to provide an excellent foundation for our new 400 Series operators," commented David Curtis, Viking president & CEO, " the establishment of ATLAS further enhances our support offering."

Also in attendance as part of the US Army delegation at the recognition event were Golden Knights Parachute Team representatives Major Robert Degand and Ken Breeden, who were able to tour the Calgary facility and view the various stages of the Twin Otter Series 400 final aircraft assembly currently underway. The Golden Knights have ordered three new Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011.

Viking provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland Canada heritage line of aircraft, DHC-1 through DHC-7 models.

FMI: www.army.mil, www.vikingair.com