Viking and Reignwood Group sign strategic partnership for 50 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft

Following Transport Canada’s recent announcement that the Series 400 Twin Otter has received Type Certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Viking Air Limited of Victoria, B.C., and Reignwood Aviation Group of Beijing, China, have entered into an agreement forming a strategic partnership to develop the Chinese market with commercial commitment to purchase up to 50 aircraft to be delivered over the next five years.

At a signing ceremony held at the Paris International Air Show, Viking president and CEO David C. Curtis, and Christopher Wang, executive director of Reignwood Group, executed a strategic partnership agreement for the purchase of fifty aircraft including exclusive representation rights for the Series 400 Twin Otter in China.

Deliveries of Reignwood’s Series 400 Twin Otters will commence in the fourth quarter of 2015, with the first two aircraft configured in regional commuter landplane and amphibious floats.

In the coming weeks, Viking and Reignwood will also be working to determine a suitable location for the development of a factory endorsed completion and service center (FECSC). The FECSC will see aircraft manufactured at Viking’s Canadian factories destined for the Chinese market undergo customer completion and customization in-country.

David Curtis commented, “Reignwood’s world-class reputation and depth of experience in the aviation sector will give the Series 400 Twin Otter immediate traction in the Chinese market, which is anticipated to reach 500 aircraft over 20 years.” He added, “This strategic partnership will allow Viking to tap into this extensive market potential, where the seaplane segment in particular is expected to expand rapidly over the next ten years.”