De Havilland Canada has announced the launch of the new DHC-6 Twin Otter® Classic-300G™ with combined purchase agreements and Letters of Intent totaling commitments for 45 aircraft.
On Monday (June 19, 2023), from the Paris Air Show, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited announced the launch of the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G with combined purchase agreements and Letters of Intent (LoI) for 45 aircraft. The Classic 300-G is the fifth generation Twin Otter Aircraft, joining the current Series 400 model. All DHC-6 Twin Otters carry passengers, transport VIPs, move cargo, conduct medivac operations and perform special missions in some of the world’s most challenging environments. When mounted on amphibious floats, the aircraft can move seamlessly between paved surfaces and water landing areas.
In Monday’s announcement, De Havilland Canada’s CEO, Brian Chafe, said,
“For over 50 years, the DHC-6 Twin Otter has stood alone as the most reliable and versatile aircraft in its class. After extensive consultation with our customers, we are poised and proud to take this iconic aircraft to new heights with the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G. With the same rugged airframe, propelled by Pratt & Whitney technology, the lighter weight Classic 300-G will deliver increased payload range and decreased operating costs for our customers. Along with an all-new cabin interior and flight deck featuring the Garmin G1000® NXi fully integrated avionics suite, De Havilland Canada is once again driving the utility transport aircraft market forward.
Introducing De Havilland Canada’s New DHC-6 Twin Otter® Classic 300-G™ - Courtesy De Havilland Canada
In a separate press release on Monday (June 19, 2023), De Havilland Canada announced that flybig has signed a purchase agreement to acquire two Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft, and also signed a Letter of Intent to acquire 10 new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft.
In Monday’s announcement, flybig’s Chairman and Managing Director, Sanjay Mandavia, said,
“Twin Otters are the perfect aircraft for India’s UDAN regional airport development program, part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for improving underserviced air routes and connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 communities. Our two Series 400 aircraft will help realize our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to connect India’s hinterland, and we are looking forward to working with De Havilland Canada on potential future acquisitions of the new Classic 300-G.”
De Havilland Canada further announced on Monday (June 19, 2023), that Jetcraft Commercial has signed a purchase agreement for 10 new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft.
In Monday’s order announcement, Jetcraft Commercial’s President, Raphael Haddad, said,
“We believe that the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G represents the best in-class commuter aircraft solution. This versatility enables the aircraft to operate into areas where regional aircraft cannot go and provide air connectivity there. Our boots-on-the-ground structure enables us to take on numerous aircraft with confidence because we know where demand lives, and where best to place them. We are thrilled to be working alongside De Havilland Canada as it brings this new, innovative product to market.”
On Wednesday (June 21, 2023), De Havilland Canada also announced that Zimex has signed a purchase agreement for two new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft.
Commenting on the aircraft order, Zimex Aviation Limited’s CEO, Daniele Cereghetti, said,
“We can confidently say that the Twin Otter aircraft have been the backbone of our business for the last 54 years. It brings me great excitement to once again be the launch customer for the latest series and we are thrilled to welcome the new Twin Otter into our family. We are also immensely proud to be the first operator of the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G with EASA approval. Not only do we take great pride in being a De Havilland-endorsed service centre, offering extensive maintenance services to customers around the globe, but we also wholeheartedly appreciate the exceptional capabilities of this remarkable aircraft.”
Finally, on Wednesday (June 21, 2023), De Havilland Canada announced a new collaboration agreement with Bluebox Aviation Systems Ltd. to offer their Blueview digital services platform as a new solution on DHC’s Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft. Blueview, deployed on the Bluebox Wow wireless streaming system, can be offered as a new service on the aircraft, or as a way of extending the digital passenger experience onboard Dash 8-400 aircraft, and will also allow operators to earn ancillary revenue.
In Wednesday’s announcement, De Havilland Canada’s Vice President – Programs and Business Improvement, Jean-Phillipe Côté, said,
“We’re excited to add Blueview and Bluebox Wow to our Fleet Solutions Catalogue and to be working together to offer digital passenger experiences to Dash 8-400 operators globally, demonstrating our commitment to offering our customers innovative solutions and ensuring their passengers have the best possible in-flight experience. By partnering with Bluebox, a digital passenger experience is added to the options available to our team as they support retrofit opportunities around the world. And by providing a Service Bulletin and certification, we are able to shorten not only the engineering timescales, but the time to market for operators to benefit from delivering digital services into the hands of their passengers as well.”
Bluebox’s Business Development Director, Paul Rayson, added,
“Partnering with De Havilland Canada will help us bring the digital cabin to more airlines and more passengers worldwide, just as we’ve done by deploying our solutions on Dash 8-400 fleets for ANA and Air Inuit – enabling a digital in-flight experience for passengers on regional routes served by the turboprops. Now, with De Havilland Canada actively supporting the engineering and certification of the installation of our Bluebox Wow hardware, all operators of Dash 8-400 aircraft will find the deployment process even simpler and faster. This new partnership is a testament to our commitment to offering the benefits of a digital in-flight experience to passengers in any cabin and operators of any business model and route network.”
With over 5,000 aircraft delivered worldwide, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC) is dedicated to advancing their nearly 100-year reputation for excellence in innovation, production and customer support. The company’s flexible aircraft portfolio, including the DHC Dash 8-400 and Twin Otter Series 400 turboprop aircraft, operate in some of the world’s most inhospitable climates, providing essential passenger and cargo connectivity between rural communities and urban centers. Additionally, the company’s aircraft support a wide variety of special mission operations including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance and coastal surveillance. In February 2022, De Havilland Canada became the operating brand for Longview Aviation, Viking Air Ltd. and Pacific Sky Training.
Source: De Havilland Aircraft of Canada