Air Alpha Greenland has expanded its fleet to cover its mail delivery contract for Post Greenland, which started in July 2001. A second Cessna 208B was added to operate exclusively for the contract and enables one to be based in Ilulissat and the other in Sondrestrom. “It was brought down from our main office in Denmark and they prepared the aircraft for operations here in Greenland. I think they made some changes with the avionics,” said Jan Thrysoe, vice president of Air Alpha Greenland.

The Cessna Caravans will operate out of the main airports to areas in the west of Greenland. “The aircraft has been working 100 per cent perfectly, there have been no problems at all.

“It’s certainly been a big success story,” said Thrysoe. Air Alpha maintains and operates the aircraft, which is owned by Post Greenland (a division of Tele Greenland – owned by the Greenland government). The two Caravans are specially configured to transport mail, so there are no plans for passenger charters. Thrysoe added: “It’s rather important to have these government contracts, because they are our livelihood. It’s the same with our helicopters, although they also do a little charter work.”

The mail contracts leave little time for alternative use for the aircraft: “I don't think it will go out for freight charter in the future, because it’s a tough operation.

“We are airborne around five or six hours a day and the total working time for the pilots is around eight

or nine hours. In Greenland they close some of the smaller airports at around three o’clock in the afternoon and larger airports around five o’clock, so we’re not able to fly after then anyway,” said Thrysoe.

He was also optimistic about the possibilities in Greenland: “There are currently no plans for new additions but we are always open to any markets showing up around here. Greenland is an interesting place and there are a lot of things going on around here.”