Ikhana Aircraft Services has received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate that promises to keep older DHC-6 Twin Otters flying well beyond their design life limits. The California company’s process re-manufactures the DHC-6 fuselage, extending it with an additional 66,000 hours/132,000 cycles of fatigue life.
“We are providing an essentially new aircraft with a full useful life,” said John Zublin, president and CEO of Ikhana. “This is not a standard aircraft refurbishment but rather an option for re-creating value by re-manufacturing a previously timed-out asset.”
The original -100, -200, and -300 Series Twin Otters produced from 1965 to 1988 have a fuselage fatigue life limit of 66,000 hours/132,000 cycles, meaning the Ikhana STC effectively doubles the airplane’s life. In addition to the fuselage work, Ikhana is also offering customized options including executive interiors, high-density passenger configurations, and special missions platforms including a maritime patrol version. The program is applicable to DHC-6-100/-200/-300 Series Twin Otters.
The initial airplane used for the STC program, a DHC-6-300, had its modification completed at Ikhana’s Murrieta, California, facility. The basic fuselage re-life project takes three to five months and will cost approximately $750,000. Ikhahna says it is currently accepting deposits for modification slots.
