News
Viking delivers Series 400 Twin Otter to Papua New Guinea
Feb. 14, 2012, Singapore - The Singapore International Air Show marks the delivery of the first of two new Series 400 Twin Otter aircraft sold to Ok Tedi Development Foundation of Papua, New Guinea.
February 14, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
Despite a fleet of legacy Twin Otters operating within the country, this delivery will see Ok Tedi as the first Series 400 operator in the region.
The first aircraft on the Ok Tedi order is being handed over at the Singapore Air show prior to a three week demonstration tour throughout South East Asia, where the aircraft will be made available for viewing by commercial, military and government organizations, along with media. Stops will include Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, and Manila, Philippines. At the completion of the tour, the aircraft will transit through Cairns, Australia prior to final ferry flight to Papua New Guinea.
Both Ok Tedi aircraft will be utilized to support the company’s mining operations and as part of their community trust to service the local community in New Guinea, with the second aircraft set for delivery in mid-2012. The two-aircraft deal was coordinated through Loch Ard Otters International LLC. Loch Ard Otters was an original launch customer for the Series 400 Twin Otter program, and has a total of five aircraft with two option aircraft currently on order.
“We are very pleased to have placed these two aircraft with Ok Tedi. The Twin Otter 400 is an excellent aircraft and we are excited about offering lease and financing options for our additional positions,” said Matthew Lorentzen, President of Loch Ard Otters International LLC.
The growing popularity of the Series 400 Twin Otter around the world is largely due to its ability to operate from remote and unimproved airfields in any operating environment, due to its robust design and equalized maintenance program. It features many modifications that improve safety and increase performance over the Series 300 Twin Otter, the most notable of which is the integration of the Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite. Other changes include upgraded Pratt &
Whitney PT6A-34 engines, use of composite materials, light weight interior, simplified electrical and LED lighting systems, as well as value added options such as de-ice and air-conditioning.
