Saab type aircraft

[PhatAJ2008]

Are all regional carriers getting rid of their props and moving to CRJ/ERJ type a/c? Are Saabs even in production anymore? Are jets cheaper to operate?
I know very little, but I would assume fuel consumption on a prop plane would be less and I know that is very important these days...

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I can tell ya that the Saabs are not in production any more. I believe XJ has the last SF340 made (#457). I have no idea on the 2000's... And if props are cheaper to operate than jets, it depends on the segment length. I'm no rocket scientists when it comes to accounting, but on average, I'd bank that t-props are very efficient for shorter routes... Obviously, for long lets, the jets can probably do it more effeciently. *Side note - I don't fly a jet.. So big assumption there with the jet side of things.* I've seen many legs in the Saab where TOTAL fuel burn is 350 - 400 lbs on the short routes...

So that's kind of a loaded question. Too many variable to give you a definite response without clarification.

 

[PhatAJ2008]

Awesome response. Thanks.

Will an aircraft like the Saab go back into production?

 

[CDogg]

I doubt it...

But a friend of mine who worked for air midwest mentioned a few years back, that on their 30 minute B1900 flights, it only took 3 passengers to turn a proffit.

 

[xjcaptain]

Like others said, in general T-props are more efficient on short stage lenths, and as the legs get longer, jets are more efficient. As far as production the SF-340 is no longer being made, total production run was 459 SF340 A, B's and B+'s. Mesaba's newest is #457, and #'s 458 & 459 went to Japan. Aircraft 460 was on the production line but not completed when the line was shut down. The tail section to AC 460 was used to repair an "A" model, AC 142 when Mesaba's hanger in DTW fell on it in a Tornado several years back. There were only 36 Saab 2000's completed, and of those I believe 2 have been written off due to damage. Would have been a heck of an aircraft, a LARGE improvement over the 340. 100 kts faster and over double the horsepower of the 340.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I second CDogg... Right now Bombardier is making the Q series aircraft and I think they kind of own the market on new t-props. Plus there are thousands in the desert and around the country for airlines to pick from. So there's really no need to start up any new production lines for turboprops.

 

[WSurf]

I've seen many legs in the Saab where TOTAL fuel burn is 350 - 400 lbs on the short routes

That might be on a 10-15 minute flight!

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Of which it was... DTW-TOL on a holiday... It works wonders for short flights....