Metros and Chieftains are still flying commercial ops, does that answer your question?
The only replacement option being the ATR, with 22 fatal accidents costing 675 lives vs the SAAB with 4 accidents and 48 lives lost. Both types having started life in 1984 I know which is the safer bet, even now. I think a types safety and reliability is more related to it's engineering than its age, and if anything they get safer with age as operators get to know their vices. Whether the type is still cost effective is another thing, fuel use and engineering costs, that is the major driver of replacing types.
Last edited by 43Inches; 10th Jul 2022 at 09:40.