KATHMANDU, July 15

Tara Air has added a factory new Viking DHC6-400 Twin Otter aircraft to its fleet.

Once given a green signal for takeoff, Tara Air will operate the Viking Twin Otter in remote short take off and landing (STOL) airfields of the country, such as Lukla, Phaplu, Jomsom, Dolpa and Simikot, among others, where it will play a vital role in transporting foreign trekkers, locals and food items to and from these remote locations, as per a press statement issued on Wednesday.

Tara Air intends to gradually replace its entire fleet of Series 300 and Dornier Do228-212 aircraft with the new Viking

Series 400 aircraft. Tara Air is scheduled to take the delivery of its second factory new Viking 400 aircraft in September.

In 2005, Viking Air Ltd, Canada purchased the type certificate of DHC6-300 Twin Otter from De Havilland. “It is the most versatile and successful STOL aircraft ever built and was brought back to production in 2008 as the new Viking Series 400 Twin Otter.”

The Series 400 boasts of cutting edge avionics technology with an integrated full glass cockpit that features the enhanced group proximity warning system (EGPWS), traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and a full colour weather radar, the statement adds.