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Viking Air sells three Twin Otters to an airline in Nepal

A Nepalese airline is buying three new Twin Otters airplanes produced by Viking Air, based on the Saanich Peninsula. The aircraft will be delivered to Kathmandu-based Tara Air between September and early 2017.
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A Twin Otter Series 400 is prepared for shipment in 2014.

A Nepalese airline is buying three new Twin Otters airplanes produced by Viking Air, based on the Saanich Peninsula.

The aircraft will be delivered to Kathmandu-based Tara Air between September and early 2017.

Each of the new Series 400 planes has a base price of about $7 million.

Tara Air already flies Series 400 Twin Otters, as well as Twin Otters manufactured earlier by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd.

Between 1965 and 1988, de Havilland produced about 800 of the turboprop aircraft.

Viking Air brought the Twin Otter back into production in 2007 and delivered its first in 2010. The aircraft is used around the world and is valued for its ability to operate in rugged conditions.

Peter Walker, Viking’s regional sales manager for Africa, the Middle East and Asia, said for Tara Air to buy more new Twin Otters is a “testament to the quality of the aircraft and its ability to reliably operate in the remote regions of Nepal.”

So far, more than 125 new Twin Otters have been sold to 29 countries.

Viking has manufacturing facilities in North Saanich and in Calgary.

Tara Air is expanding its service in remote rural areas of Nepal, Viking said in a statement. Company officials are attending the Farnborough International Airshow in England.

Viking also announced that it will not put its new Twin Otter flight simulator and training facility in Victoria as expected, but will instead install it in Calgary.

The simulator will be ready for customers in March 2017, the company said.