Air Alpes - de Havilland DHC- Twin Otters

De Havilland DHC- Twin Otters

By 1966, Air Alpes was in the market for a STOL aircraft with greater capacity and performance. Among the two types offering the most potential were the Short Skyvan and De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. Due to its adaptability to flying in mountain regions the Twin Otter 100 series soon won out, and in 1967 an order was completed for the first Twin Otters for with first deliveries scheduled to Air Alpes for October.

DHC-6 (s/n 72) F-BOOH's delivery on December 7, 1967 allowed winter operations into the Courchevel Altiport as the Twin Otters were seemingly readily adaptable to be equipped with skis. The 19 seat Pratt & Whitney PT6A powered aircraft were also used on the Chambéry - Grenoble - Nice - Ajaccio, during the summer months.

Very shortly after its delivery to Air Alpes the added complexities and very delicate and costly operation of the ski-equipped Twin Otter were realized when F-BOOH was damaged during a training flight at the Courchevel Altiport. This incident spurred the Courchevel Council to conduct regular snow removal program at the Altiport airfield from there forward.

During the overhaul and repair of the aircraft, a Twin Otter D-DIHA of General Air was leased and it is soon decided the Twin Otters will no longer be fitted with skis, due the penalty of being able to only transport 16 passengers instead of the usual 19, in order to compensate for the lateral instability of the ski equipped airplane at take off.

In May, the DHC-6, F-BOOH, rejoins the fleet after being overhauled and modified to a Series 200 configuration with a longer fuselage nose and more spacious cabin. As the Courchevel Altiport now conducts snow removal skis will no longer be required.