The first de Havilland Canada aircraft flew in 1925, piloted by none other than Geoffrey de Havilland. This first aircraft was called the ‘Moth’ and was quickly followed by many variations – all of them highly successful. However, in the early 60s, pressure was put on de Havilland by the US Army to come up with a safer, twin-engine version of the aircraft, and thus the Twin Otter was born.

The Twin Otter proved to be an immediate success, proving immensely popular for short-haul commuter transportation. It replaced many ageing piston aircraft that had come on the commercial scene after World War II and it was common to see the Twin Otter flying regional routes around the world. However, it was not until the Twin Otter was forced out of urban routes by newer, larger capacity aircraft that it returned to its primary role as an aircraft that can take off and land in a very short distance. This proved to be of immense value to the operations in the Maldives, where seaplanes are now the primary source of travel for tourists visiting resorts located in atolls that are far away for the international airport.

MAT’s success and reputation as a safe and reliable seaplane operator in the Maldives is primarily due to the fact that the Twin Otter is the most ideal small aircraft to use in an aviation environment such as the Maldives, a relatively remote country. The fleet of planes operated by MAT is at present the world’s largest such fleet, making MAT the largest seaplane operator in the world.

Described as the ‘little workhorses of the skies’, Twin Otters are known for their rugged construction and Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) performance. Also known as a DHC-6 in its civilian version, the De Havilland Twin Otter is a highly manoeuvrable, versatile aircraft that can be flown slowly (80-160 knots/150-300 kph) and in tight circles. It is a high wing, twin engine, and turbo prop aircraft capable of carrying up to twenty passengers in the commuter role. It has a wingspan of 65 ft, a length of 51 ft 9 in and a maximum take-off weight of 12,500 lbs.

The history of the Twin Otter begins at De Havilland’s first manufacturing plant in Toronto. On 5 March 1928, De Havilland Canada (DHC) was incorporated as a subsidiary of the British De Havilland Aircraft company. Britain wanted Canada to develop a strong airforce, so DHC went to work producing Moth aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The company first produced the Moth aircraft for the British. After the Second World War, DHC began producing the Chipmunk all-metal trainer, which was successfully sold in Canada and internationally. Chipmunks are still in use today. Then came the very rugged Beaver and the single-engine Otter. The need for a hardier, twin-engine aircraft resulted in the highly successful Twin Otter.

Today, the Twin Otter is used all over the world, in places where small, hardy aircraft are needed for various purposes. Equipped with wheel and ski combinations, they are the backbone of many Antarctic operations and are fitted with specialist equipment including magnetometers, ice depth radio echo sounders, gravimeters, ocean colour sensors, specialised cameras, mapping equipment, military-specification sonar, radar and scanning devices. The Twin Otter offers itself as a very stable and highly manoeuvrable platform for geological survey operations and military applications. Additionally equipped with floats, they serve as commuter planes, tourist transport and even as mobile health service units.

In the Maldives, the Twin Otter has come into its own as the safest, fastest and most reliable form of travel between its many islands.