Ikhana Aircraft Services received U.S. FAA parts manufacturing approval (PMA) for its “Re-Life” DHC-6 fuselage and was selected to re-life a Twin Otter fuselage for Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).

The PMA approval for the remanufacturing process followed U.S. supplemental type certification that was granted in 2011. The process involves replacing all fatigue-critical structural components with new components, resulting in new certified life limits of 66,000 hours or 132,000 flight cycles. 

 The PMA enables Ikhana to supply the fuselages with an FAA Form 8130 for component manufacture. With the fuselage, “all of the Twin Otter life limited structural components are now eligible for Re-Life re-manufacture providing regulatory approved ‘new’ components,” Ikhana said, noting it also offers the process for Twin Otter wing boxes, flight controls and nacelles.

“Our goal has always been to add value to whatever we do,” said Ikhana president and CEO John Zublin. ”Receiving PMA on the structural fuselage is another very important tool in our effort to bring value and flexibility to Twin Otter operators worldwide.”

“TMA sees the many benefits of this Re-Life program as it adds tremendous value to the already legendary Twin Otter,” said Stanley Ranjitkumar, TMA’s chief commercial officer and deputy company secretary. Ikhana is remanufacturing the fuselage of one of the TMA-owned DHC-6-300 Twin Otters. TMA is one of the largest Twin Otter fleet operator worldwide, Ranjitkumar noted, adding the company flies more than 110,000 flights annually. The company recently added two more aircraft two its fleet.