F-ONCA

This Twin Otter was prevously PJ-WIM of Winair-Windward Islands Airways and registered to Air Loyaute on 7 Oct 2010. It differed from the others in the treatment of the Black exhaust areas, door frame colours and had Black deicing boots on the leading edges of wings and tailplanes. These came with it when it was acquired thru the Aviation trader Erwin Aero International. Surprisingly they do not seem to have removed them which are likely over kill in the tropics.

Charter Insight Tours AUS in July 2017 showing the Butterfly style on this airframe and Dark Blue door & window framing.

Profile of F-ONCA in the simple scheme of Gloss White overall with Black areas on the engine cowls, wings (partial) and horizontal tail planes. Black rego on fuselage. Company logos on nose, fuselage and tail are Blue and Orange. Dark Blue trim around the doors and windows. Spinners are White. Slight variations in the Black on the engines and the Butterfly logos compared to F-OIAY on page 1. Note the aerial layout is very different on this one, something I mentioned on Page 1.

F-ONCA Covid transport

During the Covid epidemic in 2022, normal transport operations were shut down for a while due to the local lockdown. At this time F-ONCA was used to move Covid medicines to the Loyalty Islands, painted in a modified scheme.

The special artwork placed on the nose baggage compartment door.

Profile of F-ONCA in the same overall colours except that the nose and company logos have changed.

Wallis and Futuna contract,

Back in Issue 36/2, I noted that Aircarlin had the contract to supply the air link between Wallis and Futuna islands (a separate French possession to New Caledonia) till end of 2023. When the contract came up for renewal for another five years it was won by Air Loyaute. They provide the service currently with two DHC-6 airframes, F-OCQZ delivered 2 Jan 2024, previously Air Carlin 'Ville de Paris' and HB-LAL (formerly F-OIAY with Air Loyaute) which was acquired from them by Zimex and leased back to Air Loyaute.

I have confirmed on FlightRadar24.com that these two are currently doing the route on a regular basis but did not locate any images that clearly show them during this period. This page confirms that Air Loyaute won the contract 'https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/transport-aerien?r=wallisfutuna' despite at least six out of date sources claiming the service is still run by Aircalin.

The big question is what is happening with Air Loyaute's services back in New Caledonia. Possibly not much as passenger and tourist numbers have declined by over 60% since the riots in New Caledonia in 2024. I have ascertained that they leased HB-LRO which had previously been with Aircalin from Zimex Aviation from 1 Jan 2024 - 1 Oct 2024. Possibly gave it up at that stage due to the decline in patronage. The airframe is currently operating in South Sudan. Image below, the source confirmed it was with Air Loyaute at the time of the photo.

Online sources state that the other two Air Loyaute airframes not accounted for above (F-OIJI and F-ONCA) are parked at their main base at Noumea Magenta (GEA) airfield although an image on the Airlines Facebook page seems to show F-ONCA flying on 12-06-2024, it likely came out of service later in the year after the riots caused the large drop in passenger numbers.

Use the index button to return to the main issue 39/2 index.