The Bombardier Dash 8 (formerly the de Havilland Canada Dash 8 , sometimes abbreviated as DHC-8 ) is a series of twin-engined, medium range, turboprop airliners. Introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984, they are now produced by Bombardier Aerospace. Since 1996, the aircraft have been known as the Q Series, for "quiet". Over 1000 Dash 8s of all models have been built. Bombardier forecasts a total production run of 1,192 units of all Dash8/QSeries variants through to 2016.
Design and development
In the 1970s, de Havilland Canada had invested heavily in their Dash 7 project, creating what was essentially a larger four-engine version of their Twin Otter, concentrating on excellent STOL (Short Takeoff And Landing) and short-field performance, their traditional area of expertise. Using four medium-power engines with large four-bladed propellers resulted in very low noise levels which, combined with its excellent STOL characteristics, made the Dash 7 suitable for operating from small in-city airports, a market DHC felt would be compelling. However, only a handful of air carriers employed the Dash 7, as most regional airlines were more interested in operational costs than short-field performance.
In 1980, de Havilland responded by dropping the short-field performance requirement and adapting the basic Dash 7 layout to use only two, more powerful engines. Their favoured engine supplier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, developed the new PW100 series engines for the role, more than doubling the power from their PT6. Originally designated the PT7A-2R engine, it later became the PW120. When the Dash 8 rolled out on April 19, 1983, more than 3,800 hours of testing had been accumulated over two years on five PW100 series test engines. Certification of the PW120 followed in late 1983.
Distinguishing features of the Dash 8 design are the large T-tail intended to keep the tail free of prop wash during takeoff, a very high aspect ratio wing, the elongated engine nacelles also holding the rearward-folding landing gear, and the pointed nose profile. First flight was on June 20, 1983, and the airliner entered service in 1984 with NorOntair. Piedmont Airlines, formerly Henson Airlines, was the first US customer for the Dash 8 in 1984.
The Dash 8 design had better cruise performance than the Dash 7, was less expensive to operate, and much less expensive to maintain due largely to having only two engines. The Dash 8 had the lowest cost per passenger mile of any regional airliner of the era. It was a little noisier than the extremely quiet Dash 7, and could not match the superb STOL performance of its earlier DHC forebears, although it was still able to operate from small airports with 3,000 ft (910 m) runways, as against 2,200 ft (670 m) required by a fully loaded Dash 7.
In April 2008, Bombardier announced that the Classic versions (Series 100, 200, 300) would be out of the production line, making the Series 400 the only Dash 8 still in production. 660 Dash 8 Classics were produced, the last one delivered to Air Nelson in May 2008.
Q400X
Bombardier is studying development of a 90- to 100-seat stretch of the Q400 with two plug-in segments, currently called the Q400X project. In response to this project, ATR is also studying a 90-seat stretch.
On June 15, 2009, Bombardier commercial aircraft president Gary Scott indicated that the Q400X will be "definitely part of our future" for possible introduction in 2013-14, although he has not detailed the size of the proposed version or committed to an introduction date.
Operational history
The Dash 8 was introduced at a particularly advantageous time; most airlines were in the process of adding new aircraft to their fleet as the airline industry expanded greatly in the 1980s. The older generation of regional airliners from the 1950s and 1960s was nearing retirement, leading to high sales figures. de Havilland Canada was unable to meet the demand with sufficient production.
In 1988, Boeing bought the company in a bid to improve production at DHC's Downsview Airport plants, as well as better position themselves to compete for a new Air Canada order for large intercontinental airliners. Air Canada was a Crown corporation at the time, and both Boeing and Airbus were competing heavily via political channels for the contract. It was eventually won by Airbus, who received an order for 34 A320 aircraft in a highly controversial move. The allegations of bribery are today known as the Airbus affair. Following their failure in the competition, Boeing immediately put de Havilland Canada up for sale. The company was eventually purchased by Bombardier in 1992.
The market demand for short-haul airliners was so great that Aerospatiale of France paired with Italy's Alenia to form ATR. Their once separate efforts combined to compete directly with the Dash 8. The resulting ATR 42 was even less expensive than the Dash 8, but de Havilland Canada responded with newer models to close the gap. Other companies competed with smaller or more tailored designs, like the Saab 340 and Embraer Brasilia, but by the time these were introduced the market was already reaching saturation.
All Dash 8s delivered from the second quarter of 1996 (including all Series 400s) include the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system designed to reduce cabin noise and vibration levels to nearly those of jet airliners. To emphasize their quietness, Bombardier renamed the Dash 8 models as the Q Series turboprops (Q200, Q300 and Q400).
The Dash 8-100 is no longer in production, with the last Dash 8-102 built in 2005. Production of the Q200 and Q300 ceased in May 2009.
Regional jet competition
The introduction of the regional jet altered the sales picture. Although more expensive than turboprops, airlines can operate passenger services on routes not suitable for turboprops. Turboprop aircraft have lower fuel consumption and can operate from shorter runways than regional jets, but have higher engine maintenance costs, shorter ranges and lower cruising speeds.
The market for new aircraft to replace existing turboprops once again grew in the mid-1990s, and de Havilland responded with the improved "Series 400" design.
When world oil prices drove up short-haul airfares in 2006, an increasing number of airlines that had bought regional jets began to reassess turboprop regional airliners, which use about 30% less fuel than regional jets. Although the market does not appear to be as robust as in the 1980s when the first Dash 8s were introduced, 2007 saw increased sales of the only two 40+ seat regional turboprops still in western production, Bombardier's Q400 and its competitor, the ATR series of 50-70 seat turboprops. The Q400 has a cruising speed close to that of most regional jets, and its mature engines and systems require less frequent maintenance, reducing its disadvantage.
The aircraft breaks even with about 1/3rd of its seats filled (or 1/4 with more closely spaced seats), making it particularly attractive on routes with varying passenger numbers where many seats will be empty on some flights. For example, Island Air in Hawaii calculated that the use of a 50-seat Regional Jet would break even at 45 passenger seats compared to the Q400's 35-36 seats (around 55% breakeven load factor). Most short-haul routes are less than 350 miles (500 km), so the time spent on taxiing, takeoff and landing virtually eliminates a competing jet's speed advantage. As the Q400's 414 mph (667 km/h) cruise speed approaches jet speeds, short-haul airlines can usually replace a regional jet with a Q400 without changing their gate-to-gate schedules.
Bombardier has singled out the Q400 for more aggressive marketing, launching a website centered around the aircraft. The aircraft is also being considered for a further stretched version (currently designated Q400X) to compete in the 90-seat market range.
Variants
Series 100
Series 200
Series 300
Series 400
Operators
Further information: List of Bombardier Dash 8 operatorsIncidents and accidents
Notable accidents
- November 21, 1990, a Bangkok Airways de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103 crashed on Koh Samui while attempting to land in heavy rain and high winds. All 38 people on board died.
- June 9, 1995: Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 Dash 8
Air Canada Seat Sales and Discount Flight Tickets
Air Canada Seat sales - Find discount airline tickets on Air Canada seat sales. Save 40-50 percent off regular prices with an Air Canada seat sale.
Cheap Flights & Travel Deals - $59 - Air Canada's Worldwide Seat Sale
Travel deals, cheap flights and seat sale publisher for Canadians, informs you of the best travel deals and cheap flights from Canada
Air Canada Seat Sale
Air Canada Seat Sale to the U.S. Return Fares from C$103* Air Canada has kicked off a major summer seat sale! Take advantage of the hot savings, simply purchase your ticket by July ...
Air Canada Seat Sale
Air Canada Seat Sale Return Fares from C$120* Air Canada has kicked off a Seat Sale to the United States! Now is the time to take advantage of the savings, simply book your ticket ...
CBC News - Air Canada on-line seat sale riles travel agents
Air Canada on-line seat sale riles travel agents Last Updated: Monday, August 13, 2001 | 2:25 PM ET CBC News
West Jet Canada-wide Seat Sale
We took advantage of a West Jet seat sale to visit our daughter in Grande Prairie. ... I did fly once Air Canada…quite comfortable I must say….doesn’t feel so cramped as ...
Cheap Flights and Airline Tickets Deals: Air Canada 2009 Seat Sale
Cheap Flights and Airline Tickets Deals Travel deals, airline seat sales, airfare discounts, cheap flights, flight specials, low-cost airline tickets, flight deals, cheap travel ...
Air Canada | Air Canada Vacations & Flights | Seat Sale | RedTag.ca
Air Canada Flights & Vacation Packages, Air Canada is Canada's perfered Airline, Red Tag Vacations. Shop Compare & Pay Less
CBC News - Money - Air Canada/Canadian Airlines launch fall seat sale
Air Canada/Canadian Airlines launch fall seat sale Last Updated: Wednesday, September 6, 2000 | 1:17 PM ET CBC News
Air Canada Flights-Air Canada-Air Canada Seat Sale-Air Canada ...
Air Canada Flights-Air Canada-Air Canada Seat Sale-Air Canada Reservations-JustTravelDeals 1-888-286-8789