Viking Air has secured Chinese approval for its float-equipped Series 400 Twin Otter, opening the door for the Canadian airframer to exploit the growing demand for seaplanes within the country’s commercial, charter and sightseeing communities.
Viking describes the approval of the Wipline 13000-equipped twin-engined turboprop as “a major milestone”, providing an alternative to the smaller and more restrictive single-engined platforms that are typically used by China’s seaplane operators.
Viking argues that the regulations surrounding commercial operations of single-engined aircraft have hampered the growth of this niche sector.
“Aircraft must have a two-pilot crew and carry no more than nine passengers, making it uneconomical to run a commercial seaplane operation,” it says.
Viking Air
"With over 18,000km of coastline and more than 6,000 islands, China is a strong emerging market for the 19-seat Series 400," says Viking's vice-president strategic planning, Dominique Spragg. "The seaplane segment in particular is expected to expand rapidly over the next 10 years.”
The Victoria, British Columbia-headquartered-based firm received Chinese approval for the baseline Series 400 in 2015, and has secured a number of orders and options for the type. Customers include business aviation services provider Reignwood Aviation, which has taken delivery of two examples – registration B-10GE and B-10GF – from a 2015 order for up to 50 units.
Charter and sightseeing company Meiya Air has an order for five float-equipped Series 400s, which will be used to support its operation in Sanya, southeast China. The aircraft will join Meiya’s two single-engined Cessna 208 Caravans.
Viking has notched up more than 130 orders for the modernised version of the old de Havilland Canada DHC-6 since launching the programme in 2007. Of these 20% are float-equipped, it says.
Flight Fleets Analyzer records 87 Series 400s in service and 14 in storage.
Source: Flight International
