I have to admit, that I'm looking at this from very much a lay persons point of view, I've got a total of about 250hrs in turbo-props....most of which was in the Van & Kingair...
My own experience of the Dash is as a passenger on the Q400 positioning about a good few times, as well as the on the 300 a few times as well.
I would have thought the Q400 would have been the perfect fit for the range of ops it would face in NZ....but then I'm just a corporate jet pilot these days...my biggest concern is usually if the Marriot or Hilton will upgrade me with my executive club card points..so I get an executive suite..rather than the usual 4 star junior suite.
I do hope Air NSN get plenty of years of reliable service out of these beasts..I also hope that the comment "having to much prop time on your CV is like having VD on your medical" isnt true
