Airways Magazine: Comair Dash 8 Q400s?

[FurloughedAgain]

This month's Airways magazine quotes Randy as stating that in the future the company may pursue the Dash 8 Q-400s. He says that "It's not your father's Oldsmobile" and that poor passenger perception of the turbine engine with external fan could be changed by the right airplane and the right marketing.

Personally I think this is a fantastic idea. We are the only country in the world where the traveling public has such disdain and/or fear for the turboprop. The Q400 is a 50 passenger airplane with six bladed props, cruise speed in excess of 300 knots true, active noise suppression, and all at a fraction of the fuel burn of the RJs. Look around Montreal next time you fly up there. There are easily a dozen airlines which fly this aircraft type.

I believe that there are quite a few markets in which a new-age turboprop would be far more efficient (and every bit as quiet and comfortable) as flying a jet short distances and below 20,000 feet. Just off the top of my head, from CVG: TYS, TRI, DAY, SDF, LEX, IND, STL, CRW, PIT, CLE, CAK, DTW and many, many, more.

I hope that Randy is indeed pursuing the Dash 8 Q-400 ... not only because it is expansion ... but because it is smart expansion. It's nice to see someone looking outside the box.

 

[blzr]

the Q-400 is 70+ seats. Scope killed that Idea at PDT because it had more than 50 seats. It's a sweet ride! Wish I could have flown one.

 

[On Your Six]

I think it seats more than 50 passengers - maybe up to 70 passengers. My understanding is that ASA was looking at them as replacements for the ATR72. Many airlines in Europe use them and I guess the economics are very, very good. It has a great GLASS flight deck and it is very fast for a prop. I am sure the Horizon guys out there can share some details...

It carries a lot of passengers and it is economical - sounds like a great addition to the fleet if it happens... It would probably have a positive impact on CASM!

 

[Otto Coarsen]

It IS a sweet ride... Quieter and wider than the CRJs.

Decible wise it is Quieter, though it is a low hum instead of a whine. Those props turn SOOOO slow... I'd deffinately like to see them at more than just one carrier here in the US...

 

[dkwid]

defineately is a bit roomier than the CRJ and MUCH more than the ERJ. Quite but a fair bit of vibration in climb. Trues at 380 knots. Flys PDX-BOI in about 5 minutes slower than an F28.

 

[Q200_FO]

Here's the correct info:

The Q400 is a 70 seat aircraft. I read somewhere that it takes about 30 seats filled to break even on any given flight, that's not going too deep into the numbers though. And the cost to operate it is a fraction of the cost of an RJ. (Which management loves) That's why we have 17 of them now with options for 15 more, which we may just get from all the rumors that I'm hearing about our RJ's going to DEN for the F9 operation. The guys that fly it now say that they love it. Personally, I like the 200 becasue it's a more hands on aircraft but that's just me.

 

[LearLove]

Dash 8's 4 ever baby. Seagull said in his internet rant the other day "we are looking at the 400" or something like that.

 

[On Your Six]

There's a UK airline called FLYBE that is switching its entire fleet to Dash 8-400s from clunky 146s because the economics are so favorable. Plus, passenger response has been favorable because of the spacious and quiet interior. I hear they can outclimb a Fokker 100 on takeoff - but of course most airplanes can outclimb a Fokker 100...

 

[BoilerUP]

Aren't Horizon's Q400s single engine CAT-III certified? Holy smokes, thats a sharp looking plane both inside and out!

I've never flown on a Q400 but it doesn't seem like your father's turboprop. I would love the opportunity to fly a Q...but not for a penny less than the "jet" boys.

BETA FOR LIFE

 

[JBcrjca]

Here's a question for any QX Q400 drivers out there:
I've watched the Q400 during turnarounds while on breaks between flights...it sure is a cool looking airplane. But I've always wondered why the ground crews plug in external power every time (quick-turns too), even though I can tell that the APU is running out back? I doubt that the APU gen is deferred, because I see it done every single time. I thought the beauty of the APU was to do away with the need for ground power.

Also, do the engines use electric or pneumatic starters? Just curious, thanks for the info.

 

[Q200_FO]

Aren't Horizon's Q400s single engine CAT-III certified?

Yes it is. It hasn't happened yet though. Every aircraft on Horizon property is now CAT 3 qualified with the addition of the RJ last October. I know that we're the first regional to get it and I think the first airline in the US to have the entire fleet CAT 3. The first time you actually do a CAT 3 approach is a little freaky (and all I do is make callouts) but you get used to it. Don't know about why they plug in power with the APU's on board, maybe I'll ask next time I jumpseat on one.

 

[ACAFACVG]

Kinda interesting that OH is thinking about buying turboprops after they we so excited about becoming an all jet airline. Personally I love the Dash 8, but unfortunately when some passengers see them they think DC-3. I've had passengers that would request to be rebooked from a brand new Dash 8 or Saab 340 so they could fly on a DC-9 that's older than I am just because its a jet and they don't want to fly on an old "puddlejumper". Perception was one of the reasons regionals went from turboprops to jets; even though the jets cost more. Now it looks like economics may be forcing them back to the turboprops for shorter legs......interesting.....

 

[Q200_FO]

It's very interesting. We were supposed to get 6 jets this year and 6 more next year, but management converted those orders into 400's. Frontier is demanding more aircraft so hopefully, if they demand more RJ's than we have, then maybe we'll get more. A few months ago, one of the VP's put an article out in the onboard magazine about how technologically advanced turboprops are in an effort to change the public’s perception of them. He went on and on about new GPS, FMS, NVS systems, glass cockpits and so on. I read it and the first thing I thought was that John Doe has no clue what these acronyms mean let alone does he care. There are two propellers whizzing outside and making noise, that's all they care about. And you're right, it's totally economics as to why we're getting more turboprops instead of jets. The pax have been commenting that the 400 does have more legroom, so maybe their total perception will change. We'll see.

 

[ACAFACVG]

I'm glad to see the industry is trying to educate the public about the turbos. One time I had a celebrity (who shall remain nameless) who had a note in his PNR that he was "deathly afraid of flying any turboprop airplane" and requested that the mainline DC9 be held if possible so he wouldn't have to fly on a Saab. They held the flight for this guy for 30 minutes because his connecting flight was late inbound. Had to delay 100 other people just because of this guys paranoia........go figure

 

[LearLove]

Hello, this is the Allegheny MEC Code a Phone for March 27th, 2004

During the past week the Chairmen of Allegheny, Piedmont, and PSA MEC’s have discussed among other issues, the ‘combined eligibility list’ (CEL) that will identify the order in which ‘Wholly Owned’ Pilots will flow into Mid Atlantic and US Airways. After consulting with the other Chairmen, ALG Chairman, Pat Flannery
contacted ALPA’s Legal Department to have drafted, a signature page to precede the agreed upon list.

On Friday March 26th Pat and Allegheny/PDT contract administrator Peter Gimbrere, met with Attorneys from ALPA Legal and Representation to draft this document. The document was forwarded to all appropriate parties and is currently being reviewed. Once complete, the document will be available to the three pilot groups.

On Friday, March 26th, Merger Committee Chairman Gordon Daniel, along with the acting MEC Chairman traveled to Herndon, VA at the invitation of PDT Merger Committee Chairman, Andy Wills. The meeting was an informal prelude to the meeting that will take place on Tuesday, March 30, at 10:00 am. The
Tuesday meeting is the next step in the ALPA Merger and Fragmentation Policy. It is called by the President and will be held at ALPA HQ on 1625 Mass. Ave., Washington D.C. Anticipated attendees are the Merger committees from both ALG and PDT along with the MEC Chairmen.

On March 31st, Captain Joe Moody will be retiring. He has given many years of safe quality service to this company since he was hired in March, of 1969. His farewell flight, Flt 4019, will land in MDT at 13:40. All are encouraged to attend, to wish Joe a long and successful retirement.

On Friday, March 26th, US Airways announced that Allegheny Airlines President, Keith Houke, would replace John Leonard as President and CEO of PDT Airlines. According to the press release, Mr. Houke will continue as President and CEO of the merged Allegheny/Piedmont Airline. Mr. Leonard is set to retire as of March 31st, after 14 years with the US Airways Express Division.


On April 12th, a static display of the Bombardier Q400 will take place at the ALG Maintenance hanger in Middletown. From 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The static display will be followed by a demo flight. All crewmembers are welcome and anyone interested in the flight portion can call Irene Johnson to list for the flight.


Council 91 will hold a regular LEC meeting on April 13, at 16:00 at the SYR Ramada.

That’s all for this ALG MEC update.

On April 12th, a static display of the Bombardier Q400 will take place at the ALG Maintenance hanger in Middletown. From 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The static display will be followed by a demo flight. All crewmembers are welcome and anyone interested in the flight portion can call Irene Johnson to list for the flight

 

[General Lee]

I can't wait for our furloughs to fly them!

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[House_X]

I've been bragging about the Q400 for a couple of years...faster than most straight wing jets, looks great, Honeywell Primus Avionics (I think) the list goes on and on.

I always wondered why the Q400 didn't catch on...maybe the regional airlines are finally discovering that it's a great airplane.

 

[On Your Six]

It's cheaper to operate than a CRJ and carries more passengers - nuff said...

 

[ACAFACVG]

I always wondered why the Q400 didn't catch on...maybe the regional airlines are finally discovering that it's a great airplane.

The big problem for both the Q400 and the Saab 2000 had nothing to do with the airplanes. They are both great airplanes. The problem is they came out when the regionals were in a rush to shed turboprop equipment for jets because of their popularity with the flying public. Unfortunaelty John Q Public associates turboprops with old technology and jets with new technology, even if the jet is older and less advanced than the turboprop. Fortunately for the Q400 (and possibly others) it seems the price of Jet A may force the regionals to take a second look at using Turboprops for short haul markets.

 

[ACAFACVG]

I can't wait for our furloughs to fly them!

I would love to see that happen General. But it will never happen until your MEC, the Comair MEC, and the ASA MEC decide to get together, leave the egos outside the room, and do what is best for all of the pilots flying under the Delta brand. Everybody (including the DL pilots) will have to give a little to get a little and until everybody is willing to leave their sacred cows and attitudes outside of the room this will never happen. Sadly, it looks as though everybody has dug their little foxholes and are digging in. That is until Grinstein comes along and frags each one of you individually which will be a sad day indeed. You guys can accomplish much more together than you can seperately; its a shame you probably won't figure that out unitil its too late.


That being said, I don't have a dog in this fight anymore......Independence is on the way and I'm looking forward to working where every aircraft is a mainline aircraft and we don't have any of this regional vs mainline crap.