News
Viking Completes Argentina Air Force Heavy Maintenance Contract

May 5, 2010 Geneva, Switzerland – Viking
Air Limited of Victoria, BC, Canada has now completed the heavy maintenance and
engine upgrade contract awarded on behalf of the Government of Argentina by the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and has reached an agreement
for repairs on a second DHC-6-200 Twin Otter to be completed in co-operation
with Argentine Air Force personnel (AAF).

The contract for the initial Series 200 Twin Otter
(T-85) restoration was carried out at Viking’s repair and overhaul facility at
Victoria International Airport, BC, Canada.  It included aircraft inspection and overhaul, major “D”
check, installation of up-rated Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines and
Hartzell 3 bladed propellers, complete strip and paint, new interior, flight
testing and supplemental type certification approval to return the aircraft to
service.

The preliminary contract was expanded in the fall of
2009 to include an avionics modernization package requiring new system design,
installation, and regulatory approval. The avionics upgrade included dual
Garmin G600 EFIS and GNS430AW with WAAS GPS/Nav/Com, stand-by electric horizon indicator,
DME, ADF, Audio Selector Panel, HF Com System, 406MHz ELT, Transponder System
and Davtron Clock.

Following AAF acceptance of T-85, the Air Force
immediately opened negotiations with Viking for work on a second contract. The major repair of subsequent Twin Otter aircraft
operated by the AAF is to be completed in country and will consist of type
training and supervision by Viking’s technical, planning and materials
personnel in combination with the AAF technical personnel.  The purpose of this joint venture is to
assist the AAF with developing an internal military maintenance and repair
capability in-country, which can receive factory recognition.

Viking’s vp of business development and MRO general
manager, Robert Mauracher, said, “Working side by side with our operators on
projects such as the Argentina Air Force T-85 contract and in-country joint
effort contract allows Viking to gain an understanding of the unique challenges
facing maintenance organizations around the world.”

He added, “It is important that Viking continue to
tackle extensive repair and overhaul projects such as this, not only to
maintain Viking’s in house capabilities at a high level, but also to
demonstrate our ongoing commitment to worldwide customer support.”

Viking launched the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400
production program in 2007, and currently has a production backlog of over
$200M through 2014.  Viking
provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland Canada heritage
aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7), and is part of Westerkirk Capital Inc., a
Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality,
aviation and real estate sectors.