Caravan Ski ops

[Scandinavian Sky]

Does anyone of you guys have experience operating the Caravan on skis?

We consider putting our float Caravan on skis during the vintertime, offering shuttle services to lodges in the mountains on prepared landing strips.

I know there would be better airplanes for that purpose, but we are a 206 / 208 operator considering using these airplanes.
If the strips are prepared properly it should be no problem operating noseski airplanes?

What about a Grand Caravan?

Thanks for all input!

[Road Trip]

For bush operations Caravans preform best on wheels and do well out of dirt and grass strips.

Of all the bush operators that I know of that have Caravans none use them for ski work.

They are marginal floatplanes and lowsy ski planes. If you want a float/ski plane look at a DHC-2T or even better a DHC-3T.

[Scandinavian Sky]

Thanks. I know that a Beaver or Otter would be a better option. But either we can operate our 206`es / 208 on winter operations or we call it off and operate them as floatplanes only. We have an option to lease a 185 or a classic Beaver but we would prefer using our own airplanes.
If the 208 is good on wheels out of dirty strips, why isn`t she a choice out of preapared snowstrips on skies? I don\t talk about random strips somewhere in the bush, I talk about well prepared snowstrips beside a mountain hotel.

This is an VFR ops only. What do you mean by the Grand Caravan will loose its IFR certification due to the engine modification?

[Bushav8er]

Forget the skis and operate wheels from ice or hard-packed (prepared) surfaces?

[fortis risk]

What engine modification? The van does just fine with wheels on ice and prepared snow where we've run them.

[Louis]

I don't see why a sufficiently hard snow surface wouldn't work on wheels.

Road Trip probably has the "SuperVan" Texas Turbines modification in mind, where they put a Honeywell TPE331 900 shp turbine up front. Which in Canada invalidates the 208B's commercial single engine IFR approval.

[J31]

Here are some for sale http://www.cs-ent.ca/7001.htm
Kelner ran on on ski's for a bit when the Caravan first came out. Frank may have some info for you. Check out their web site http://www.kelner.com/article/our-people-114.asp

I think it would work well on a smooth snow surface that is not too rough or sticky.

[Scandinavian Sky]

Thanks so much!! Great info.

What about a 206 on skis? Maybe more common to use on ski than a 208?

Does anybody know where we could find/buy some wheels/skis for a 206?

[zed]

There's some 206 skis listed for sale on CS.

http://www.csplane.com/6942.htm

[zed]

Actually two sets listed... Missed this one.

http://www.csplane.com/7120.htm

[McPhoo]

If you are looking for some skis then check out Kehler Ski Manufacturing at http://www.kehlerski.com
There is a C206 operating in your neck of the woods on Kehler Skis and as far as I know they are very happy with them. On the bottom right of the Kehler Ski home page there is a link to the KSM Brochure. On page two of that brochure there are several facts listed in relation to the C208 install. Good luck!

[Caracrane]

Great pic from C-GAWM or AWJ. Air Wemindji was the only C208 ski operator in the world. Single engine turbine was a revolution in 1992. And to be able to fly at night TC requested that we had a " ski up- ski down" indicator in order the skis were up when landing at an airport. Skis were Kohlers's and were the same that equiped Beech 18. After having a couple of incidents the STC had a mod for the front ski that was enlarged by 4 inches on every sides but the front. She could endure some beating but it's not a Otter.

[skymarc]

I would say the C208 would be as good or better than a C206 on skis.

[frozen solid]

If your strips really are going to be PREPARED, then there should be no problem using skis on a Caravan. I wonder what the steering would be like, but I can't think of any reason the skis wouldn't be fine on prepared snow surfaces.

[Caracrane]

The Caravan you see was one I flew and they'd go anywhere. The boys would ask having some sprooce once every few hundred feet in case of whiteout that was it.... and YES she could endure some pretty good beating. And I remember climbing down from the stair and my feet going down deep in the snow up to by balls.

And yes the radius of turn was a thing to think about before finishing taxi and shut-down