Victoria, BC, January 30, 2010: To support expanding operations for the Series 400 Twin Otter production and ongoing de Havilland legacy aircraft operators’ customer support, Viking has added a new 84,000 sq. ft. facility at its Victoria, BC, location. The new building was officially opened in December 2009, and will serve as Viking’s corporate head quarters and main manufacturing facility. The additional space has allowed Viking to customize and develop production operations in line with leading-edge quality systems and continuous improvement targets, crucial to supporting the Series 400 Twin Otter production program launched in 2007.
The new building is situated next to Viking’s existing heritage building that will continue to house Viking’s Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO) and Esso Fixed Base Operation (FBO). With prime air side location at the Victoria International Airport, the space now made available in the heritage building will facilitate growth of Viking’s MRO, which has made a commitment to support the growing international fleet of legacy de Havilland aircraft and new Series 400 Twin Otters.
Viking’s MRO has developed extensive policies and quality processes to obtain and maintain international regulatory approvals, including Transport Canada, the Federal Aviation Authority, and most recently, EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) Part 145 maintenance organizational approval. The addition of EASA certification will allow the company to perform and certify maintenance on European registered aircraft and products, and will expand Viking’s quality and operational offerings, better to service existing and future customers around the world, and vital for the continued support of the aircraft product line.
Viking launched the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 production program in 2007, and has a current backlog estimated at over $200M. Viking provides OEM support for the worldwide fleet of de Havilland heritage aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7), and is part of Westerkirk Capital Inc., a Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality, aviation and real estate sectors.
