Future Tipping Points
Nugpot,
I'm surprised to hear the Q400 is limited at RCB - I know it gets rather warm there, but still I thought she would have been capable of hauling a load to JNB. How much runway does she use on a hot highveld day when dpearting for GRJ?
My main question is whether any of you sages agree / disagree that should crude oil lets say double in price, we would see aircraft like the Q400 taking on longer and longer sectors e.g. 700-800nm as of course the fuel cost difference between jet and prop would then be far greater than what they are now? Note that RJ bubble coincided with <20$ per barrel oil prices....correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Embrarer are making many ERJ135/145s these days, and BA Connect seem to struggle to make money with them.
So is there a tipping point of fuel price that would see turboprops become the domiant mode of transport in short haul travel?