Skydive Dubai, a commercial skydiving operation based in Dubai, UAE, has bought a Twin Otter Series 400 from Viking Air of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 

The aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Dubai prior to the start of the World Air Games being hosted by Skydive Dubai on November 30, 2015, and will be welcome addition to the company’s existing fleet of legacy Twin Otters used for commercial parachute operations. 

The aircraft was sold through Veling Tayara, Viking’s Series 400 Twin Otter exclusive sales representative for the Middle East and Turkey, and marks the first non-military sale of a Twin Otter Series 400 in the Middle East. 

Bani Younis Ahmed, Skydive Dubai's technical maintenance manager, comments: "We are very happy with the addition of the Viking Twin Otter Series 400 to our fleet. The Twin Otter design is perfectly suited for Skydive Dubai's operations, and we expect our new Series 400 aircraft will be featured throughout the World Air Games here in Dubai.

“Dealing with a regional representative such as Veling Tayara has been a satisfying experience; it has been helpful having a local company on the ground in our same time zone, providing full support to ensure the delivery of our new Series 400 in time for the World Air Games. We look forward to forging this relationship closer with future projects.”

Established in 2010 shortly after the first international parachuting championships were held in Dubai, Skydive Dubai has now become the number one choice for skydiving enthusiasts around the globe. Located in the world's premier skydiving location neighbouring the Dubai marina and the Palm Jumeirah, Skydive Dubai operates its drop zone to the highest safety standards under the regulations of the Emirates Aerosports Federation (EAF). 

Veling Tayara offers bespoke financial solutions for executive aircraft with a focus on operating leases and providing financing alternatives for corporations, governments and high net worth clients in the business aviation sector. With offices in Dubai, London and Mauritius, Veling Tayara is ideally situated to serve clients in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa, and is the exclusive sales representative for the Viking Twin Otter Series 400 in the Middle East and Turkey. 

Veling Tayara is a subsidiary of the Mauritius-based airline leasing firm Veling, whose clients include Emirates, Sri Lankan and other prominent Airlines. 

The Series 400 Twin Otter is the best-selling next generation turbo-prop aircraft in its class, with Viking aircraft sold and delivered to 28 countries worldwide. Viking provides OEM (original equipment manufacturer) support for the global fleet of de Havilland legacy aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7) and forms part of Westerkirk Capital, a Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality, aviation, and real estate sectors. 

Aircraft aficionados wishing to see a Twin Otter close and personal should visit the Dubai Airshow which is currently under way, where Skydive Dubai has one of its legacy Twin Otters on show.

The 2015 Dubai Airshow runs until November 12 at a purpose-built site in Dubai South, where Al Maktoum International Airport is also located.