DHC 6 300 Amphibian Operating Costs

[Fat Clemenza]

Hi eveyone

This is for those of you that have flown or managed the Twin Otter amphibian. I would appreciate if you could help me with the aircraft's operating costs.

Many Thanks

Big Fat Clemenza

[Fat Clemenza]

anyone around???????:\

[North Shore]

Two Places that i can think of, offhand.
1.) Ontario (Canada) Provincial Government operates several - try a google search
2.) Washington Marine Group used to operate one - Google again.

Also, try Kenn Borek Air in Calgary - the operate numerous otters, and may have some idea...

[skidbuggy]

Try West Coast Air in BC and Seaborne Airlines in St. Thomas.... both are straight float operators of the Twin Otter however. Good luck.

[international hog driver]

I operated Twin Otters on Wipline 13000s (straight floats) along side Caravan Amphibs. Its a hard question to answer because to my knowlege there are only a few in service, a couple private ones and Ontario ones with the "Fire Floats" that can scoop and dump.

The Basic float structure is very much the same on wips, and I have seen the amphib gear on the Otter only once and it appeared to be scaled up version of the Caravans

Basically castoring nose wheels that can get a good shimmy and dual mains that retract just behind the skeg of the float.

Land operations are always fun, it’s a bit like a shopping trolley with a sweet spot (speed) that you will learn to avoid. The gear is not made for serious land stol ops but will handle unpaved surfaces if no better option exists.

Avoid if at all possible over-nighting an amphib on salt water, we had to several times and it then creates havoc with the main wheel brakes and other main wheel assembly items that don’t like sleeping in water.

Other than that after every landing the whole thing needs a good bath in fresh water and if your really professional use a compressed air gun to remove and water.

Basically very versatile and reliable when well maintained, if you don’t maintain it then you will be having constant brake and system reliability issues.

PM me if you need more.

[Spooky 2]

Well obviously the costs associated with this type of operation can be quite different for various operators and the country having regulatory oversight. I flew a -300 on amhip. floats out of the Seattle area for several years and we had over the top maint. on the aircraft at all times. We operated in both salt and fresh water. The FAA requirements for changing the flight control cables every year seemed the most onerous in spite of being stainless steel. Mind you I was not writing the checks for this aircraft but it seemed that we were taking it into some heavy maint. MRO's about every twelve months and this was when the yearly flight time probably was less than 150 hours total. Great airplane and lots of fun to fly but I think the hourly maint. were perhaps higher than even a GEX,GV and B757's that we operated.