Synd at ATW ikke går Bombardier nærmere etter i sømmene når det gjelder reklamen for Q400. Jeg tok meg den frihet å korrigere skrytet. (Red.)
Celebrating 20 Years of the Q400: The Reliable All-Terrain Turboprop
A PEOPLE CONNECTOR AND NETWORK BUILDER
Connecting people and communities is what the Q400 does best, even in some of the harshest conditions, from narrow gravel runways in frigid northern Quebec, to hot and high airports in North Africa and Asia. As a result, this aircraft plays an important role in developing economies and growing communities. It brings families together while supporting social mobility and economic independence.
Because it can serve smaller markets efficiently and cost-effectively, with enough range to bring passengers to the world's capitals; airlines have relied on the Q400 to strengthen their networks for the past two decades.
A MODERN, RELIABLE AND CONFORTABLE WORKHORSE
The Q400 aircraft has been designed as a modern, 21st-century turboprop. As the Q (for quiet) suggests, it is designed to offer passengers a safe and comfortable ride while respecting the peace of neighbouring communities. It is also a fuel-efficient aircraft, which makes it an environmentally responsible choice.
But the Q400 is also a robust and reliable workhorse, with the power to keep up with the high cycle and quick-turn demands of regional airlines. As a result, Q400 operators worldwide have achieved a dispatch reliability of 99.5 percent and schedule completion rates of 99.7 percent.
Bombardier has sold over 1,200 Q Series worldwide, with over 60 Q400 owners and operators in over 90 countries. The worldwide fleet has logged 8 million flight hours and has transported 500 million passengers to their destinations comfortably, safely and on-time.
Q400: the business-builder
Ethiopian Airlines: Growing with Africa's largest turboprop fleet
To date, Ethiopian Airlines has purchased 34 Q400 aircraft (with 5 additional options), representing the largest and most modern turboprop fleet in Africa.
Ethiopian Airlines: Growing with Africa's largest turboprop fleet
To date, Ethiopian Airlines has purchased 34 Q400 aircraft (with 5 additional options), representing the largest and most modern turboprop fleet in Africa.
"The Q400 airliner has played a critical role in developing new markets and increasing frequencies to support improved air travel in Africa. We are committed to supporting the Single African Air Transport Market and the Q400 is a very important tool to ensure reliable, cost effective and modern air transport in the continent." said Tewolde Gebremariam, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines. “Building on our partnerships with Asky and Malawian Airlines, we are now progressing in a partnership with Guinea Airlines, Zambia Airways and Ceiba Intercontinental (Equatorial Guinea) as well as new opportunities in Chad and we will soon launch Ethiopian Airlines Mozambique using the Q400. These markets all require a reliable fleet for their domestic and regional connections. Our core fleet of Q400s will support all these requirements as we continue to work with Bombardier to support and maintain the aircraft through our approved Q400 Authorized Service Facility and our Q400 full flight simulator," added Mr. Gebremariam."
Air Baltic: Q400 flying green
Operator Air Baltic touts the environmental benefits of the 12 Q400 aircraft in its fleet, saying: "One of the greatest benefits of the aircraft is its contribution to helping preserve the environment—the Q400 uses less fuel (approximately 30 percent less than older, inefficient jets of the same size) and produces less emissions than similar aircraft." With a range up to 2,000 kilometres these 76-seater planes help AirBaltic serve major European destinations.
Operator Air Baltic touts the environmental benefits of the 12 Q400 aircraft in its fleet, saying: "One of the greatest benefits of the aircraft is its contribution to helping preserve the environment—the Q400 uses less fuel (approximately 30 percent less than older, inefficient jets of the same size) and produces less emissions than similar aircraft." With a range up to 2,000 kilometres these 76-seater planes help AirBaltic serve major European destinations.
SpiceJet: How the Q400 helps India's middle class take-off
SpiceJet, India placed the largest ever order of Q400 Turboprops at the Paris Air Show in 2017—50 extra-capacity 90-seater planes—which will help deliver greater connectivity between underserved markets as the Indian middle class grows, demanding greater access to convenient flights.
SpiceJet, India placed the largest ever order of Q400 Turboprops at the Paris Air Show in 2017—50 extra-capacity 90-seater planes—which will help deliver greater connectivity between underserved markets as the Indian middle class grows, demanding greater access to convenient flights.
"I am sure this fresh order will help us further enhance connectivity to smaller towns and cities and help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ensuring that every Indian can fly," said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet.
"SpiceJet operates India's largest regional fleet and has always been a firm believer in the growth story of India's smaller towns and cities. We have worked hard over the years to put these smaller towns on the country's aviation map and will strive to keep that momentum going in the times to come."
Philippine Airlines: Q400 brand differentiation
The Q400 has also made room for brand and service differentiation. Flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, which has been undergoing a brand refresh program, became the world's first operator of a new dual-class 86-seater Q400 last summer. At the 2017 Paris Air Show, Philippine Airlines exercised its purchase rights for seven additional units bringing its total order to twelve.
The Q400 has also made room for brand and service differentiation. Flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, which has been undergoing a brand refresh program, became the world's first operator of a new dual-class 86-seater Q400 last summer. At the 2017 Paris Air Show, Philippine Airlines exercised its purchase rights for seven additional units bringing its total order to twelve.
“As we position ourselves for growth, we are pleased to be adding more Q400 to our fleet to strengthen our domestic operations," said Jaime J. Bautista, President & Chief Operating Officer, Philippine Airlines. “We are thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we look forward to offering more capacity and improving connectivity in the region with comfortable, fast and efficient regional aircraft like Bombardier's 86-seat turboprops."
Flying Q400 to the Future
In all of its variants, the Q400 is a turboprop ready to meet the demands of the next 20 years, with a continued commitment by Bombardier to ensure that it can meet the needs of all terrains, operating conditions and markets—large and small—reliably, efficiently and safely.
In all of its variants, the Q400 is a turboprop ready to meet the demands of the next 20 years, with a continued commitment by Bombardier to ensure that it can meet the needs of all terrains, operating conditions and markets—large and small—reliably, efficiently and safely.
Learn more about our modern Q400 turboprop
Dash-8-Q400: Why did they certify this beast?
Dash-8-Q400: Why did they certify this beast?
The Dash-8-Q400 is the flagship of Bombardier’s turboprop products. Boasting powerful engines and a sleek body, it is designed to beat jets to reach 25,000 feet, and fly as fast as 350 knots true airspeed. It’s biggest competitor is fellow 60-seater the ATR-72, which is probably a prop pilot’s most hated propliner but is an accountant’s most loved propliner due to its lack of radical attempts to fly fast or climb fast, instead focusing on being boring and cheap to run. The sales number has shown that the ATR already won hands down. I looked at rough numbers and I can see why, but one thing I cannot help to wonder is, why is the Dash-8-Q400 “bad”?
Landing Gears
The bad reputation that sticks to the Q400 is the landing gear accidents from end of 2006 to end of 2007. The worst luck happened with SAS, within 3 days, 2 Q400s had the right main landing gear collapsing, followed by another a month later. SAS decided to discontinue the use of the Q400. The right main landing gear wasn’t the only problem at the time, Augsburg Air’s Q400 landed with the nose gear up.
The bad reputation that sticks to the Q400 is the landing gear accidents from end of 2006 to end of 2007. The worst luck happened with SAS, within 3 days, 2 Q400s had the right main landing gear collapsing, followed by another a month later. SAS decided to discontinue the use of the Q400. The right main landing gear wasn’t the only problem at the time, Augsburg Air’s Q400 landed with the nose gear up.
The landing gear issues went on. ANA’s Q400 landed in Kochi without the nose gear. Porter Airlines had a Q400 whose landing gear failed to retract while another had to have the gear extension through alternate extension. To cap 2007 off, SAS had 2 cases of the landing gear failing to retract after take off.
These accidents were blamed on severe corrosion in the main landing gear, or a blocked hole within the actuator assembly, or corrosion of a spring. Bombardier itself were aware of problems, after the ANA case, it asked operators to check the front landing gear door mechanism. But others noticed the problems early on. In 2006, Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) asked Bombardier to improve the reliability of the Q400 after 52 cases of Q400s declaring emergencies or returning to the departing airport. In 2007, the Accident Investigation Board of Denmark asked for the design, certification and the maintenance program of the Main Landing Gear mechanism to be reviewed. The FAA proposed an Airworthiness Directive in 2008 mandating changes to the weight-on-wheels mechanism and various other stuff. With all this, Bombardier had little choice but to introduce modifications.
However, on 7 November 2014, we saw a new case of a Q400 having the right main landing gear collapse upon landing. This time, it was due to a tire burst and bits of rubber were visible sticking to the landing gear extension/retraction mechanism. This case is still under investigation, but the landing gear collapse saw the propeller contact the ground and almost penetrated the fuselage, right next to a passenger. Perhaps it’s time Bombardier has another look at the landing gear design of the Q400?
Exit Doors
Given the high wings, ditching and evacuation on water seems to be a complicated matter for the Q400 which has 3 Type I doors (front left, rear left and right) and 1 type II/III exit on the forward right. Except the rear doors aren’t to be used in ditching.
Given the high wings, ditching and evacuation on water seems to be a complicated matter for the Q400 which has 3 Type I doors (front left, rear left and right) and 1 type II/III exit on the forward right. Except the rear doors aren’t to be used in ditching.
The forward left door is equipped with a “ditching dam”, which prevents water from flooding the cabin (as the bottom of the door would be below the water line) and needs to be installed prior to opening the door. The forward right type II/III exit also has a ditching dam.
These ditching dams add extra complications and opens the potential for errors in a stressful evacuation, which I think contravenes the requirement for exits to be a simple and direct as possible. The sad thing is, these damns only slow the water coming in and not stop it.
Conclusion?
OK… so we have a plane who has a habit of the landing gear mechanism going funny, yet, if you land on water, you got fiddly stuff to deal with. I do wonder, does this justify calling the Dash-8 the “Crash-8”? If yes, then maybe the Dash-8-Q400 is the “Crash-8-Quit400”?
OK… so we have a plane who has a habit of the landing gear mechanism going funny, yet, if you land on water, you got fiddly stuff to deal with. I do wonder, does this justify calling the Dash-8 the “Crash-8”? If yes, then maybe the Dash-8-Q400 is the “Crash-8-Quit400”?
I guess it is not surprising that the ATR72 has made sales in Indonesia while the Q400 have not. I guess in the land where cost is everything, one can forego the benefits of the Q400, avoid the landing gear issue, the ditching issue (since Indonesia is a maritime country), and just play it safe with the boring ATR72.
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