PARIS—De Havilland Canada has unveiled a new version of its long-lived DHC-6 Twin Otter, which it calls the Classic 300-G. The aircraft has 45 purchase agreements and LOIs, according to the Calgary-based company.

The new model of the rugged 19-seater evolved after De Havilland made the rounds of Twin Otter operators last year and asked them what they were seeking in future purchases. 

“They said a new and approved avionics suite, better range and/or payload, and engines that were perhaps lighter and more efficient,” De Havilland Canada VP, corporate affairs, Neil Sweeney said June 19 at the Paris Air Show. All the purchase commitments are from existing Twin Otter customers.

Production of the Classic 300-G will begin later this year. It saves 400-500 lb. (178-223 kg) on the current aircraft’s basic weight, allowing greater payload and/or range. Precise details of new payload/range figures were not immediately available. Overall, the new variant gives an 8% increase in revenue for operators, De Havilland says.

Most of the weight saving comes from replacing the existing Honeywell avionics with the Garmin G1000 NXi suite. The new avionics fit-out “will bring wireless cockpit connectivity, enhanced situational awareness, visual approach capability and our fully integrated GFC 700 autopilot with envelope protection to the Classic 300-G,” Garmin VP of aviation sales and marketing Carl Wolf said.

Weight savings also come from some redesigned airframe components, or by using different materials for them. A new cabin fit-out is also lighter.

The latest variant will have two engine options—the existing Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 or the more powerful PT6A-34 for more challenging operating environments, particularly for operators working in hot temperatures. There will also be new starter generators with cross-generator start, paired with a lithium chemistry battery. 

The Classic 300-G cabin will also have redesigned windows providing more natural light for passengers.

The new version is seen as a competitor to the passenger version of Cessna’s recently introduced SkyCourier twin turboprop. 

Production of the new Twin Otter variant will run in tandem with the current Series 400, the company says. 

“If a Series 400 customer wants a 400, we will build it for them,” Sweeney said, but he believes the Classic 300-G will become the main production version. 

De Havilland will conduct a similar consultation exercise with Dash 8 operators later this year, with the intention of revamping the large regional turboprop providing it returns from its "production pause" in 2027-28. 

The 2027-28 timeframe would coincide with the construction of new production facilities at De Havilland Field, east of Calgary. Current production facilities do not allow the simultaneous production of the Twin Otter, Dash 8-400 and the CL-515 waterbomber, Sweeney says. 

Meanwhile, the first version of the three new freighter-variant Dash 8-400s announced at last year’s Farnborough Air Show is about to receive certification. The QC (Quick Change) freighter, which essentially formalizes and improves the temporary stripped-fuselage Dash 8 that was operated for freight purposes during the pandemic is about to start flight testing. Certification is scheduled for end-July.

Improvements include removal of the aisle, which allows cargo nets to be strung across the full width of the fuselage, together with smoke alarms and smoke isolation valves. 

The other two freighter variants are a package freighter and a version with a large cargo door. These are about halfway through the development process.