Flying the DHC-8 and ATR I can tell you both have good and bad aspects. Nothing beats the DHC-8 into short runways and the Q400 has great speed that can compete easily with jets on short haul flights (a flight from PHNL-PHOG is 2 minutes longer on a Q400 vs a B717). However the ATR has a lot of nice piloting features and engine protections, plus the ATR-72 is more fuel efficient than the Q400 but climbs slower.
I can't speak much to icing and while I found the ATR to be extremely tricky in icing I don't think it's unsafe. Pilots just must observe the precautions listed in the oeprating practices of the aircraft.
That said, I hope Saab does enter the TP market. In Hawaii turboprops can easily outperform jets due to the constant engine cycles that eat through the B717, B737 and CRJ engines. The 30-52 seat TP market has really only been serviced by ATR since Bombardier abandoned it and some more competition would be welcome.
Last edited by Island-Flyer; 6th Jun 2012 at 06:21.