IATA DHTICAO DHC6

De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter

De Havilland Canada

TravelerPulse profile

Rugged STOL utility turboprop serving remote communities worldwide.

First flight

1965

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

Range

1,297 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprops

Status

In production

The De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter is a versatile, twin-engine turboprop aircraft renowned for its exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. First flown in 1965, it was designed to operate from unprepared airstrips, gravel bars, water, snow, and ice, making it invaluable in remote and challenging environments. Originally produced by De Havilland Canada, the type went through several ownership changes before production rights passed to Viking Air of Canada, which relaunched manufacturing as the Series 400 in 2010. The aircraft has been operated in configurations ranging from passenger transport and cargo to medevac, parachute dropping, and scientific research. With over 900 aircraft produced across multiple series, the Twin Otter remains in widespread service globally, particularly with regional and commuter operators in Africa, the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and polar regions. Its reliability, versatility, and ability to use floats or skis have made it one of the most enduring utility aircraft ever built.

Notable operators

Notable operators have included Air Maldives, Trans Maldivian Airways, Perimeter Aviation, Cape Air, and numerous regional carriers across Africa and the Pacific.

Notable facts

›First flown on May 20, 1965, at Downsview, Ontario, Canada.
›Viking Air restarted production with the Series 400 in 2010 after acquiring type certificates from Bombardier.
›The aircraft can be fitted with floats, skis, or tundra tires for operation in extreme environments.
›FAR Part 135 certification allows it to carry up to 19 passengers without requiring a flight engineer.
›It has served in Antarctic and Arctic scientific missions due to its ski-equipped variant capabilities.