Citing Brazil’s governmental policies to spur developing regional airline service to remote areas of the country, Canadian airframer Viking Air today named Florida-based International Jet Traders (IJT) with offices in São Paulo, as its exclusive Brazilian sales representative for the Twin Otter Series 400. The Viking program is a continuation of the original de Havilland DHC-6 turboprop production series. IJT was selected for its sales experience in the region in the areas of commercial airlines, private charter companies, industrial operators and private ownership.

Viking restarted the production line for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-powered twin after acquiring the type certificates from Bombardier for all out-of-production de Havilland aircraft in 2006. It has thus far sold 120 of the newly built aircraft in 29 countries. The Series 400, which can be fitted with amphibious floats, is currently in the final stages of certification by Brazil’s civil aviation authority ANAC, its final hurdle before beginning operations in the South American country.

“The Twin Otter Series 400 [is] arguably the best platform for this market,” said Renner Lima, IJT’s sales director for Brazil. “It’s the perfect fit for new low-density regional airlines. The field performance, improved safety, low operation costs, durability of the airframe, reliability and the simplicity in the maintenance program place the Twin Otter at the top.”