MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

DAP incorporates a BAE 146/200 for Antarctic activities

New DAP aircraft will link Pta. Arenas and Antarctic

DAP Airways the main regional private air service company in the extreme south of Chile has incorporated a 100 seats BAE 146-200 unit to its fleet, leased from the British company Flightline.

The four reactors 1985 model with a commercial value of three million US dollars will replace the Dash 7 which DAP normally chartered from Canada for its multiple Antarctic support activities during summer seasons. The aircraft is already in Chile and is expected in Punta Arenas once all the legal paperwork and formalities with the Chilean Civil Aviation Authorities have concluded. "The BAE 146-200 is faster, more comfortable has more space and capacity, it's quieter and we think it's ideal for Antarctic activities", said Alex Pivcevic, DAP manager. "BAE 146-200 is fuel efficient, 116 units have been built, can fly at night, takes off and lands in short airstrips, and is one of the most silent jets", added Pivcevic. This will be DAP second experience with jet aircrafts; the first was from 1995 to 1997 with a Boeing 727-300 linking Santiago with Punta Arenas and MPA in the Falklands. However the operation succumbed following an acrimonious price war with Lan, Ladeco and National. The dispute ended in a litigation that years later ruled in favor of DAP and its monopoly claims against Chile's flag carrier. The only experience in Chile with the BAE 146/200 was in 1990 when Lan acquired three units for low density domestic flights. DAP currently has a fleet of 17 fixed wing aircrafts valued in 15 million US dollars and 20 million US dollars in helicopters which makes it the largest private operator in the Southern Cone.