By Kerry Lynch From AIN Online

Air Antilles has placed an order for two Viking Twin Otter 400 twin turboprops, making the Guadeloupe, French West Indies airline the first commercial operator of the Series 400 in the Caribbean. Under the agreement, Air Antilles will also become the first to receive European Aviation Safety Agency approval for Series 400 Twin Otter steep approach operations.

To be delivered later this year, the Twin Otters will be configured for 19 passengers and replace two de Havilland Series 300 aircraft currently in service with Air Antilles. Steep approach approval for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-powered aircraft will recognize procedures for operation at approach angles in excess of 4.5 degrees, which Viking said is essential for operations at Gustaf III airport in Saint Barthelemy.

“The Caribbean shows encouraging market opportunities for Series 400 Twin Otter due to its low operating costs, ability to access many short runways throughout the region, and its ability to support growth of an inter-island commercial transportation network,” said David Caporali, regional sales director for the Americas for Viking (Chalet 238, SD B4).

Separately, Viking partner Longview Aviation Services has added to its order book for the Viking CL-415EAF enhanced aerial firefighter conversion program. In 2018 Longview Aviation Services launched the CL-415EAF under a multiple aircraft purchase agreement with Bridger Aerospace. The Bozeman, Montana operator has now exercised all of its purchase options for six CL-415EAFs, which brings the value of the agreement to $186 million. Deliveries of the first two are scheduled for early next year.

The CL-415EAF is a conversion of the CL-215 airframe with new Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, Pratt & Whitney PW123AF engines, increased fire-retardant capacity, and other improvements.

Noting an increase in wildfire activity in the U.S., Bridger Aerospace founder and CEO Tim Sheehy said, “It is becoming more important than ever to ensure we have the appropriate aircraft resources available to stay on the leading edge of next-generation aerial firefighting techniques.” Sheehy called the CL-415EAF an ideal platform to optimize the operator’s ability to combat wildfires and grow its position in the aerial firefighting arena.

For more on this story go to: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2019-06-18/air-antilles-introduce-viking-400-caribbean