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Horizon air Bombardier Q400-Turbo Prop

Bombardier's Q Series is a family of turboprop passenger aircraft outstanding by its durability and low noise emissions. These aircraft are also known as de Havilland Dash 8, Dash 8 designation also refers to Q100 model. They operate on regional routes and is enabled for operation at extreme climates such as arctic, tropic or desert. Originally, Dash 8 was the name assigned to this aircraft but in the 1990s Bombardier changed to Q Series to remark it was a quiet aircraft. As of 2005, more than 650 of these aircraft have been sold logging more than 13 million flight hours so far.

 

Bombardier has developed a family of turboprop aircraft varying the seating capacity from 37- to 70-seat which share a common crew training. Bombardier introduced a new Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system in the Q Series aircraft for enhanced cabin comfort. The NVS system also lowered the noise emissions to unprecedented levels which were deemed as unattainable in the previous generations of turboprop aircraft.

 

The latest addition to the Q Series, the Q400, represents the aircraft with the greater seating capacity, higher cruise speed of 360 knots, longer fuselage and longer range. Bombardier Q400 can accommodate from 68 to 78 passengers while flying on regional routes. It was specifically targeted at low fare and regional carriers which require an aircraft with lower seat per mile cost. Q400 complements jets flying on routes previously out of reach for turboprop-powered airplanes.

 

The Q400 turboprop aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A rated at impressive 5,071 shaft horsepower each. The propulsion system includes two high efficiency Dowty Aerospace all-composite, six-bladed propellers. The engines are the key of the Q400 awesome performance compared with other Q Series aircraft and the majority of existing turboprop aircraft. Q400 is available in three models with different maximum gross weight and payload capacity.

 

On 14 January 1997, Tyrolean Airways of Innsbruck, Austria announced an order for four Dash 8 Series 400 (Q400) plus further four on option. The agreement was valued at $83 million and deliveries were set to begin in 1999 and continue through 2001. On 25 March 1997, Austrian carrier Rheintalflug Seewald Geselleschaft mbH placed a firm order for one Q400 and secured an option for one additional aircraft. Aircraft delivery was planned for 2000.

 

On 27 August 1997, Swedish carrier SAS Commuter placed an order for 15 Q400s and took options on another 18 aircraft. The firm order aircraft were valued at $350 million and aircraft deliveries were expected to commence in 1999. On 9 February 1998, Tyrolean Airways placed an order for two Q300 and one Q400 turboprop aircraft. On 8 March 1999, Augsburg Airways placed an order for three Q400s plus two options. The firm order aircraft were valued at $65 million. On 17 March 1999, British carrier Jersey European Airways placed an order valued at $250 million for 3 Q200, 4 Q300, 4 Q400 and 4 CRJ200 airplanes.

 

On 16 April 1999, Chinese carrier Changan Airlines signed an agreement on three Q400s valued at $60 million. On 14 June 1999, US carrier Horizon Air placed an order worth $321 million for 15 Q400 airplanes. Aircraft deliveries were slated between 2000 and 2001. On 29 June 2001, Wideroe Flyveselskap signed a contract for three Q400 aircraft to be delivered between 2001 and 2002. On 29 August 2001, Japan Air Commuter ordered five Q400 airplanes and took one additional aircraft on option. The firm order aircraft were valued at $105 million and the first one was planned for delivery in the second quarter of 2002.

 

On 19 December 2001, Hydro-Québec placed an order for two Q400 airplanes. On 8 October 2002, ANA placed an order for four Q400 airplanes with deliveries expected from 2003 through 2004. On 23 April 2003, FlyBE, formerly British European, placed an order valued at $362 million for 17 Q400s plus further 20 options. If all options executed, the total contract value would be $818 million. On 12 November 2003, Horizon Air placed an order for two Q400 turboprop airliners to be delivered in 2004.

 

On 5 December 2003, Austrian Airlines ordered two Q400 turboprop airliners valued at $42.2 million and to be delivered during 2005. On 13 January 2005, Qantas Airways placed a firm order for seven Q400s with aircraft deliveries beginning in 2006. The contract was valued at $168 million. On 27 January 2005, UK-based carrier FlyBE purchased 20 Q400 turboprop airliners valued at $485 million. On 8 June 2005, Republic of Korea Jeju Air placed an order for five Q400s and options on three additional aircraft. The firm order aircraft were valued at $120 million.

 

US carrier Horizon Air signed a purchase order with Bombardier for 12 Q400 turboprop airplanes valued at $294 million at list prices October 19, 2005. The airplanes were scheduled to be delivered to Horizon Air commencing in the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

On January 30, 2006 Bombardier announced that South African Express Airways was signing for two Q400 74-seat turboprop aircraft valued at $48.5 million.

 

On February 1st, 2006 REGCO Holdings Inc. announced a contract for the purchase of 10 70-seat Q400 turboprop aircraft from Bombardier with 10 more as option. The 10 firm order airplanes were valued at $250 million, or $500 million if all contract options are exercised.

 

On February 2, 2006 Japan Air Commuter executed a Q400 aircraft option from a previous contract with Bombardier Aerospace. On May 12, 2006, Japan Air Commuter ordered its eleventh Q400 high-speed turboprop airliner.

 

On June 20, 2006, Luxemburg-based Luxair placed an order with Bombardier Aerospace for three Q400 high-speed turboprops and took options on three additional aircraft. The firm order airplanes were valued at $75.5 million.

 

On 31 July 2006, Algiers-based Tassili Airlines signed a contract with Bombardier Aerospace for four Q400 turboprop airliners. These aircraft were valued at $103 million at list prices with deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2007.

 

On 6 September 2006, Denver-based Frontier Airlines placed an order for 10 Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners and took options on 10 additional aircraft. The firm order Q400s were valued at $256.8 million or $520.3 million if Frontier exercises the 10 aircraft options.

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Uploaded on September 5, 2009
Taken on August 22, 2009