Isles of Scilly Skybus takes 1st new Twin Otter aircraft in a decade – and it’s older than the airline itself
October 5, 2025
The Isles of Scilly’s own airline, Skybus, is celebrating a rare fleet expansion. Its newest aircraft, a fully refurbished de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, is currently making an epic 4,000-mile ferry flight across the Atlantic from Alberta to Land’s End.
Registered C-GXDB for the journey, the 55-year-old aircraft — older than Skybus itself — is serial number 299 and will become G-NETS once certified in the UK.
It marks the carrier’s first new addition since 2013 and will strengthen regional connectivity under a new agreement with Aurigny Air Services, supporting lifeline routes to the Channel Island of Alderney.
Epic 4,000-mile Twin Otter ferry flight from Canada to Land’s End
Skybus managing director Jonathan Hinkles announced the delivery in a LinkedIn post that captured both the technical challenge and the emotional milestone.
“There’s something happening in Didsbury. I don’t mean the M20 district of Manchester, but its namesake in Alberta,” he wrote. “A short time ago, the newest aircraft destined for the Skybus fleet took off from Olds-Didsbury airfield at the edge of the Rocky Mountains to begin an epic 4,000-mile ferry mission across the Atlantic to Land’s End.”
The flight, managed by Planes & Parts, is routed via Thompson (MB), Iqaluit (Nunavut), Keflavík (Iceland), and Cardiff before arriving at Land’s End Airport. The longest leg, from Iqaluit across Greenland to Iceland, spans nearly eight hours.
To make the journey, the aircraft’s cabin has been fitted with long-range ferry tanks, which will be removed after arrival. “It’s a major undertaking,” Hinkles noted, adding that he wishes the ferry crew “fair weather and following winds for their important mission.”
Rebuilt Twin Otter G-NETS: from Indonesia accidents to Skybus service
The Twin Otter, originally built in 1969, has a storied past. Delivered new to Pakistan International Airlines in 1971, it flew for Air Alpes in France, Publi Air in Belgium, Syd-Aero in Sweden and Coast Aero in Norway before arriving in Canada.
It served with Northern Thunderbird Air from 1994 to 1998, then with US-based Era Aviation until 2007. It arrived with Rocky Mountain Aircraft for the first time in 2007, undergoing refurbishment from April to August.
It then transferred to Aviastar as PK-BRS in Indonesia, where it was involved in two runway excursions in 2008 and 2009. Both incidents caused substantial damage but no fatalities.
The aircraft was later dismantled and shipped by sea to Canada, where it began a second life under the care of Rocky Mountain Aircraft in Calgary.
Hinkles described what followed as a “massive and quite extraordinary rebuild programme” lasting more than a year.
Over the course of the project, the aircraft received:
- New fuselage panels and full corrosion protection
- Two brand-new Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines
- New propellers and landing gear
- A complete wiring overhaul
- A Garmin G600 glass cockpit replacing traditional dials
- A lithium-ion battery system for easier maintenance and lighter weight
“These technological leaps engage the Skybus team in much preparatory work and training,” Hinkles said. “I’m grateful both for all of the team’s efforts to date and those yet to come as we work towards the aircraft carrying its first paying customers in the weeks ahead.”
Aurigny colours confirmed as G-NETS prepares for Alderney routes
Following certification, G-NETS will be painted in Aurigny colours, reflecting its upcoming role on Alderney’s lifeline routes. It will also receive Skybus’ signature “pet pannier” before entering service.
The custom-built under-fuselage compartment, affectionately nicknamed the “dog box,” allows passengers’ pets to travel safely on the Isles of Scilly routes, a uniquely Skybus solution that has become part of the airline’s charm.
While no specific date has been confirmed, Hinkles said the aircraft should be ready to carry passengers “in the weeks ahead,” marking the first of two new Twin Otters joining Skybus under the Aurigny partnership.
Skybus’ investment underlines the critical role of small regional carriers in maintaining UK island connectivity. Operating from Land’s End, Newquay, and Exeter, Skybus provides essential transport links for residents, tourists, and medical transfers to the Isles of Scilly.
With G-NETS joining the fleet, and a second aircraft planned to follow, the carrier continues a proud tradition of blending rugged aircraft, dedicated crews, and a community-minded mission that stretches far beyond its short routes.
