Sunday, August 11, 2013

DHC6-400 - Another Major Milestone for MASwings


MASwings has created another history in its book when Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Hj Awang, Chief Executive Officer, took delivery of the first Twin Otter DHC6-400 from the manufacturer, Vikings Air Ltd of Canada. The handover of the aircraft with the serial no. 880, Malaysian registration: 9M-SSA and Canadian Registration for Ferry Flt.: C-CVVA, from Vikings Director of Sales, Mr. Richard Libby materialized at 11.30am, at Hangar 10 of the Vikings Air Ltd delivery centre located next to the Victoria International Airport, Victoria on 2nd August 2013
“This is our second aircraft acceptance within the last 2 weeks. Last week, MASwings took delivery of a brand new ATR72-600 in Toulouse,France.” said Datuk Capt. Nawawi. “I would like to thank the Ministry of Transport and the Malaysian Government for the replacement of the old DHC6-310 aircraft that have been servicing our rural air services for the past 30 years” he added.
The new DHC6-400, although share the same fuselage and carrying the same number of passengers of the older-310s currently in service, is fitted with the most advance flight avionics system in its class. With its new full glass cockpit, auto flight system, dual global positioning navigation system and coupled with satellite communication system, this new DHC6-400 will raise the safety and operational bar to a higher level. The new DHC6-400 will allow MASwings to provide additional services to the rural areas in Sarawak and Sabah, and is capable to provide a full freighter services and can be fitted with stretcher kit for medical evacuation.

The ferry flight will depart from Victoria on the 10th August 2013, heading up to Alaska, then over the Bearing Sea to Eastern Russia. It will then start to head south to South Korea, Taiwan, and The Philippines before arriving into Kota Kinabalu. The journey will take 8 days and expected to arrive in Kota Kinabalu on the 18th August. The ferry flight will be jointly conducted by MASwings pilot, Captain Stefanus Angkom and a pilot from the manufacturer.

“Captain Stefanus Angkom, a native of Sarawak has been with us since MASwings started operations in 2007. I am delighted to have our local talent to fly the ferry flight across the biggest ocean in the world. To me this is not just another new aircraft, but to be flown by our own native and delivered to our community is yet another historic moment that will be remembered for a very long time. Let us all pray for his safe journey home” added Nawawi.

The aircraft will be in Kota Kinabalu for pre-service modification and to be used for pilot and engineers training until 14th September. The aircraft will be positioned to Miri on the 15th September and enter into service on the 16th September 2013, in commemoration of the 50th Malaysia Day in Sabah and Sarawak.

MASwings will be taking delivery of total of 6 new DHC6-400s in the next 12 months.

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