The Little World

The Twin Otter lives again. And with a fresh coat of gloss paint, too.

CF-ALO is now ready for delivery to Alta Oil flying out of Wet Dog Regional in Alberta. Her skis are stored in the hangar against winter and the wheels are in use today. WRRegional doesn’t really like pilots fitting them until the last minute because awkward landings can tear up the rougher parts of the runway. And they thoroughly distrust bush pilots landing amphibians on the main strip.

As a corporate user, Alta Oil has some privileges that private pilots miss out on; they can taxi to the terminal gate or to CP Air Cargo rather than park on the outer hardstand. This is a real advantage in winter if there is a freezing wind. It’s no joke hauling baggage a quarter mile through sleet or a blizzard from your plane to the car park, and WRRegional charges private flyers for the use of the baggage tug and trailer.

Still, if there are several planes in at the same time, Alta Oil takes last place behind RCAF flights or any of the regular feeders; CP Air Cargo, Northwest, or Prairie Air. The management of Alta Oil are in talks with Hughes Aerial Survey to share their facilities as they are close to the main terminal anyway.

Note the Arctic propellor stripes. The paint shop saw a Twin Otter of the RCAF rescue service painted like that and decided to mask off the props and shoot some silver onto them. They make a pretty pattern of rings as the engines are running. At least no-one has walked into one…yet.