Twin Otter begins 18,000 km ferry flight from Switzerland to Tahiti

A De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter has left St. Gallen-Altenrhein in eastern Switzerland on a ferry flight to Tahiti, a distance of more than 18,000 kilometres.

The aircraft, registered F-ONCA, is the third Twin Otter for Air Tetiaroa, a carrier based in Tahiti. The planes are operated on the airline's behalf by Zimex Aviation. Before departure the F-ONCA spent several months at Zimex Aviation Maintenance at Altenrhein, where it was overhauled, modified and prepared for its new role.

The trip is planned across nine legs and about 60 flight hours, with eleven days set aside to complete it. Two experienced pilots are making the flight.

The first stop is Cardiff in Wales. From there the route crosses the North Atlantic to Keflavik in Iceland, then on to Iqaluit in northern Canada. The Twin Otter continues across North America with stops at Saskatoon, Boise in the United States and Santa Maria.

The Pacific follows. The remaining legs are Hilo in Hawaii and Kiribati, before the final sector to Tahiti. Air Tetiaroa calls the delivery "Le Grand Voyage".