This aircraft was ordered new by Aeropelican - 1981

First flown as C-CFBS at Toronto - May 01, 1981

Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines

Accepted by Aeropelican - May 29, 1981

Arrived Belmont, N.S.W. on completion of the delivery flight - June 19, 1981

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-KZO - June 25, 1981

Registered to Aeropelican Commuter Air Services Pty Ltd

Aircraft was configured to seat 19 passengers

Registered to Aeropelican Air Services Pty Ltd - May 08, 1984

Operated final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Belmont as AN6655 - September 13, 2001

All Ansett operations were suspended due to bankruptcy - September 13, 2001

Returned to service under administration Belmont - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as AN5648 - September 24, 2001

Aeropelican Air Services was sold to IAP Group Australia Pty Ltd - March 07, 2002

Leased to Macair to replace the leased DHC-6 VH-KZP - May 2002

Returned to the Ansett administrators on termination of the Macair lease - February 21, 2003

Operated final Aeropelican service from Belmont Airport - April 01, 2005

Sold to Nordic Aviation Contractor, Billund, Denmark - May 2005

The intended sale to GT Air, Indonesia did not eventuate

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - May 23, 2005

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N162AY - June 03, 2005

Registered to Aircraft Guaranty Holdings Trust, Huston, Texas

Aircraft remained stored at Belmont until ferried Belmont -Sydney (Bankstown) as N162AY - October 12, 2005

Sold to Trans Maldivian Airways Pty Ltd - December 2005

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - December 27, 2005

Entered onto the Maldivian Aircraft Register as 8Q-TMQ - December 28, 2005

Issued with temporary ferry permit it departed Sydney (Bankstown) on the ferry flight - December 29, 2005

Arrived Male on completion of the ferry flight - December 31, 2005

Ferry route: Sydney - Alice Springs - Port Headland - Cocos Island - Male

During maintenance this aircraft was fitted with floats

Entered service with Trans Maldivian Airways - January 17, 2006

Current with Trans Maldivian Airways

VH-KZO. Aeropelican - in the Ansett 'Starmark' livery at Belmont Airport, December 2000.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 1920-129.)