Maldivian Air Taxi
Maldivian Air Taxi, also briefly MAT, is a company specializing in seaplanes aviation company based in the Maldives.
Business
The Maldivian Air Taxi was founded by the Dane Lars Erik Nielsen. The idea came to him in 1992 due to a sickness in a several-hour island boat transfer. The company began with the operation on 4 November 1993 with two aircraft of type De Havilland Canada DHC- 6 Twin Otter. MAT today is the largest operator of Twin Otter seaplanes world.
The airline began operations with 25 employees and today employs 350 people including about 50 pilots.
The " island hopping " operate today from Malé International Airport, about 40 islands. On board the machine up to 18 travelers have room. Mostly, however, flying with only 15 or 16 passengers and up some luggage. As is common in the Maldives is next to the pilot and co-pilot, a flight attendant on board.
Maintenance
The Company leases its aircraft from Kenn Borek Air in Canada. Thither the machines return in a two -to three- year intervals for maintenance. The trip to Calgary lasts five days and is associated with numerous intermediate stops. The company is annually the largest seaplane airline with 400,000 passengers transported.
Fleet
As of July 2013, the fleet of the Maldivian Air Taxi consists of 41 seaplanes:
- 01 de Havilland Canada DHC -6 Series 100
- 01 de Havilland Canada DHC -6 Series 200
- 39 de Havilland Canada DHC -6 Series 300
- 02 de Havilland Canada DHC -6 Series 400
Accidents of Maldivian Air Taxi
( Information according to the Civil Aviation Department of the Maldives, as of end 2008)
- August 25, 1995: Accident of a Cessna Caravan 208 (Aircraft ID: 8Q -MAT ) with 10 occupants in Rasdhoo in North Ari Atoll; the plane crashed at startup in the strong wind shear due to problems with the rudder from; not injured; Total loss of the machine
- December 3, 1999: crash of a Bell 212 helicopter ( 8Q -MAY ) with 10 occupants in Rangali in the Ari Atoll; The helicopter crashed into the sea; 10 dead; Total loss of the machine
- August 2, 2009: Accident of a DHC- 6 200 Twin Otter ( 8Q -MAG ) with 7 occupants during the landing attempt at Halaveli Resort Lagoon. The plane flipped over while placing the wing; no deaths; Total loss of the aircraft