Viking Air

Viking Air Limited
Corporation
Industry General Aviation
Founded 1970 (1970)
Headquarters North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Key people
 David Curtis (President and CEO)
Products DHC-2T Turbo Beaver
DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400
Number of employees
 575[1]
Website www.vikingair.com

Viking Air Ltd. is a manufacturer of aircraft, as well as aircraft parts and systems, based in North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The company produces new versions of the DHC-6 Twin Otter, upgraded versions of the DHC-2 Beaver, spare parts for older de Havilland Canada aircraft, and components for Bell Helicopter Textron. Its President and CEO since at least May 2005 is David Curtis.[2] The company is managed by Longview Aviation Capital. [3]


History

The company was established in 1970 by founder, Nils Christensen, doing overhaul, maintenance and conversions to all types of aircraft but specializing in flying boats.[4] In 1983, Christensen acquired the exclusive rights from de Havilland Canada to manufacture spare parts and to distribute the DHC-2 Beaver and the DHC-3 Otter aircraft. He retired as president of Viking Air in 1987.[5]

In May 2005, the company subsequently purchased the parts and service business for all the older de Havilland Canada aircraft from Bombardier Aerospace.[2][6] Since 2008, Viking has been producing its own version of the DHC-6 Twin Otter, and repairs the DHC-2 Beaver.

On February 24, 2006, Viking purchased the type certificates from Bombardier for all the discontinued de Havilland Canada designs[7] including:

Not included were type certificates for the DHC-8 Dash 8, which is still produced by Bombardier Aerospace as their Q400 series.

Viking Air has also held the type certificate for the Trident TR-1 Trigull since 2006.[8][9] Ownership of the certificates for the former de Havilland and Trident series gives Viking the exclusive right to manufacture and sell new aircraft of those types.

On June 20, 2016, Viking announced the acquisition of the worldwide amphibious aircraft program from Bombardier, including the type certificates for the CL-215, CL215T and CL-415 Waterbombers.[10][11] The acquisition was finalised on 3 October.[12]

New production

First flight of the Series 400 on October 1, 2008
DHC-6 Series 400 on display at the 2010 Farnborough Airshow

On April 2, 2007 Viking announced that with 27 orders and options in hand, it was restarting production of the Twin Otter with more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34/35 engines.[13] The first flight of the Series 400 technical demonstrator took place on October 1, 2008 at Victoria International Airport.[14] In February 2010 the first new production Twin Otter Series 400 equipped with Honeywell's Primus Apex IFR digital flight deck and configured with a commuter interior took its first flight.[15] The DHC-6-400 series Twin Otter design has all around better performance, it includes more power, space, and now can haul up to 4,280 lbs of freight.

Viking Air also produces upgraded DHC-2 Beavers fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turboprop engine called the DHC-2T Turbo Beaver.

In December 2008, Viking Air indicated their intention to put the DHC-5 Buffalo series back into production in Canada at their home factory in North Saanich or in Calgary, Alberta. The new production Buffalo features Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150 turboprops, a glass cockpit, enhanced vision and night vision goggle capability. The company intends to propose the aircraft as a replacement for the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet of existing DHC-5As.[16]

In September 2017, Viking Air announced that it would begin talking to potential customers interested in the CL-415 “SuperScooper” Waterbomber aircraft, with the potential of the company reviving production of the aircraft if it finds demand. [3]

Products

Remanufactured Beavers by Viking Air, upgraded with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 680 hp (507 kW) turboprop engine.

First delivered in July 2010, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 or optional PT6A-35 Hot & High Performance engines, and available on standard landing gear, straight floats, amphibious floats, skis, wheel skis, or intermediate flotation landing gear.

Remanufactured CL-215 Scoopers, featuring Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprop engines and EFIS avionics suite.[17]

Proposals

Proposed redesigned new production version to be built by Viking Air. NG is the company marketing term indicating Next Generation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ strategis.gc.ca: "Canadian Company Profiles - Viking Air Limited - Company information", retrieved 26 May 2014
  2. 1 2 wingsmagazine.com: "Viking Air acquires assets of Bombardier" 5 May 2005
  3. 1 2 "Varcoe: Viking Air building case for water-bomber manufacturing in Calgary". Calgary Herald. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  4. ↑ https://www.helicoptersmagazine.com/operations/nils-christensen-1154
  5. ↑ http://www.cahf.ca/CUSTOMPAGES/907/MemberList.cfm?firstLetter=C#49
  6. ↑ Viking Air Limited acquires certain assets of Bombardier Commercial Service Archived April 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. May 2, 2005
  7. ↑ Viking acquires de Havilland type certificates Archived August 24, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. February 24, 2006
  8. ↑ Transport Canada (7 September 2011). "NAPA Issued Certificates Online: Certificate Detail". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (May 1987). "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A19AE". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Viking Air to buy type certificates for Bombardier amphibians". 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  11. ↑ Limited, Viking Air. "Viking Air Limited Acquires Worldwide CL-415 Waterbomber Program from Bombardier". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  12. ↑ "Viking completes acquisition of Bombardier's amphibious aircraft programme". Flight Global. 3 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Viking restarts Twin Otter production April 2, 2007
  14. ↑ First Flight For New Twin Otter A "Boring" Success Archived October 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. October 01, 2008
  15. ↑ First Flight For New Twin Otter AvFlash News, February 27, 2010
  16. ↑ Niles, Russ. "Viking Proposes Resurrection Of DHC-5 Buffalo." avweb.com, December 2008. Retrieved: 13 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "CL-215T and CL-415EAF Aircraft". Viking Air. Retrieved 28 November 2017.

External reading

  • Sean Rossiter The Immortal Beaver: The World's Greatest Bush Plane , Douglas & McIntyre, 2005 ISBN 1-55054-724-0,
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