Ordered as a replacement for Twin Otter 13808 that was destroyed on the ground at Islamabad-Chaklala Air Base, Pakistan by the Indian Air Force in December 1971 while operating for the United Nations. Declared surplus in 1994, 13809 has been flying civilly ever since. It is 8Q-AIH with Island Aviation Services based in Malé, Maldives at the time of uploading.

My wife and I were having lunch in a diner in the small town of Golden, in the Canadian Rockies, when a CAF flight crew came in. Knowing that Golden's airport was a small one, I was curious to know what they were flying, so headed to the airport. This CC-138 was a pleasant surprise.