De Havilland Canada delivered its 1,000th DHC-6 Twin Otter, along with the 999th, to SATENA, Colombia’s state-owned regional airline, on March 20, 2026. The aircraft, serial number MSN1000, completed its first flight from Calgary Airport on January 20, 2026, ahead of a 4,000-hour ferry flight to Bogotá.
First flown on May 20, 1965, and entering service in 1966 with Ontario’s Department of Lands and Forests, the Twin Otter originated as a development of the single-engine DHC-3 Otter. De Havilland produced 844 units through 1988, including 614 Series 300 models powered by 620-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines. Viking Air restarted production in 2008 as the Series 400, later rebranded under De Havilland in 2024 as the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics.
Renowned for short takeoff and landing capabilities under 400 meters, the twin-turboprop operates on wheels, skis, or floats in Arctic, jungle, and mountainous environments. It supports passenger transport, cargo, medical evacuations, military missions, and surveys, with a service ceiling of 25,000 feet and range up to 803 nautical miles with payload.
“Delivering our 1000th Twin Otter is a proud milestone for De Havilland Canada,” said CEO Brian Chafe. “Built to connect people in the world’s most challenging environments, the Twin Otter’s success reflects the skill and dedication of our teams.” SATENA President Major General Óscar Zuluaga added, “This aircraft will play a vital role in strengthening connectivity throughout Colombia,” marking the airline’s fourth Twin Otter.
Recent orders include up to 10 Series 300-G for IndiaOne Air, one for the U.S. Air Force in Guatemala, and two for Ethiopian Airlines.