SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Upgraded and back in production, the new Twin Otter series 400 soared for a test flight last Oct. 1, and now five are currently nearing completion, the certification process almost over, and they are being prepared to be shipped out around the world.

The Viking Air Twin Otter series 400 takes flight on Shawnigan Lake in B.C. last October. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

The aircraft, flown in the North's pioneer years by bush pilot legends such as Willy Laserich and Max Ward, was put back in production by a Victoria, B.C., company called Viking Air Ltd.

"Viking has been around for a long time," said Rob Mauracher, spokesperson for Viking.

"Almost 30 years. We were originally building parts for that fleet (of 600 original Twin Otters still in use), and then we eventually took over the type certificate from Bombardier, and then we did a market study and we checked out the worldwide supply of Twin Otter aircraft, because it was the largest selling twin engine 19 seat aircraft in the world, and actually today it is still."

The market study, that Viking had done, showed a market for 400 of the aircraft over the next 10 years "based on the age of the aircraft, the attrition rate, and the fact that there is nothing being designed to replace the Twin Otter" according to Mauracher, who said the company is aiming at producing 200 Twin Otters to stay on the safe side.

As well, the Twin Otter is a very versatile aircraft, which led to it's initial popularity.

"You can have one aircraft and put it on floats, skis or wheels. You can put it in a 19 seat commuter configuration, or we're also selling the Guardian version which has a search radar and a long range platform, for search and rescue or ice and maritime patrol," said Mauracher.

"It's (used everywhere) from the bush up North in Canada right to the jungle regions through South America and Asia, right into the deserts of Africa."

Mauracher said that the company made about 400 changes to the aircraft – "all the things that would add value to the aircraft without increasing the cost dramatically."

The company made the announcement in 2007 that they acquired the type certificate – which means they are the sole producers of the aircraft in the world – and were set to start production.

"Production originally stopped in 1988. There were 844 aircraft originally built (600 are still in use today). Our first aircraft off the assembly line, we are still calling 845, so we're continuing the serial number," said Mauracher.

"Originally the aircraft came in three series, there was a 100, 200, and 300 series. This is now the 400 series because of all the changes we added to the aircraft."

Though Viking has worked with Northern companies that use the aircraft in the realm of providing parts, there have been no requests yet from the NWT for the aircraft.

Air Tindi and Arctic Sunwest Charters did not return phone calls to Yellowknifer.

The Twin Otter type certificate was acquired by Viking along with a number of others.

"We acquired the type certificate for the aircraft from DHC-1 to DHC-7, and we call those aircraft the 'family of animals' – you know, the Chipmunk, the Beaver, the Otter, the Caribou, the Twin Otter, the Buffalo (as well as the Dash 7 aircraft)," said Mauracher.

Stationed in Yellowknife are the Canadian Forces' sole four Twin Otters, which are still in use.

"They have a secondary role for search and rescue, and then it's just usually light transport and support for the operations that go on up (in the Northern regions)," said Captain Paul Finnemore, Air Force public affairs in Ottawa.

"It's a workhorse – it's a small workhorse, compared to the Hercules or something – but it would have to be, up there in the North."

"I haven't spent too much time up there, but I understand there are not a huge amount of large airstrips up there. There are many smaller ones, for bush planes."

Finnemore said that as the aircraft is being used for traveling to rough locations, they provide a vital resource for the military – especially in terms of the current issues with Northern sovereignty.

"The Arctic is becoming more and more of an issue these days in terms of industry moving in and various countries having various political interests in the region," said Finnemore.

A sort of clash between the Canadian Forces and Viking has been in the news lately to do with the controversy over the military's plans to buy search and rescue planes from a company in Italy, rather than buy Canadian – specifically Viking's Buffalo aircraft.

Finnemore said that the procurement decisions made by the military are based on the most value for the least dollar.

Those standards are being applied to thought about replacing the fleet of Twin Otters – something that is only being thought about by the military so that "when the time comes and the higher-ups tell as that we have to look at replacing something, we're not caught in the dark," said Finnemore.

"Currently a lot of the initiatives that we are undergoing in terms of procurement in the Air Force, it's in response to what was outlined in a document called Canada First Defense Strategy, and in that document there was no mention of Twin Otter replacement."

Viking is confident in their aircraft though.

"I would say that there are other aircraft that try to mimic the Twin Otter. If you look at the acquisition cost of the aircraft, what the aircraft can actually do, and the (direct operating cost) of it versus the competitors, I think there's nothing that can compete with it today," said Mauracher.