Another Q400 operator in OZ?

[Alice Kiwican]

Rumour has it that a certain operator with bases in BNE and TSV are getting 2 Q400's in the next month or so. It seems that their current stable of aircraft are not quite big enough and they need to supplement their fleet with an aircraft in the 50-70 seat range.

Good luck to them hope it works out!

[Highflyer787]

I've read that mac air could be ordering Q400's as part of their fleet expansion. One route that was mentioned was Mt Isa - Darwin

[flying-spike]

Wow, SAAB, ATR and Dash8......Any word on who they are going to con to fly them?

[Skystar320]

No operator can order Q400's and have them delivered well within two months....... You will see Dash 8's flying [mixture of Q400's / 200's] to ideally replace the 30+seater Saab 340's and Q400's to replace the ATR

[Timber]

Maybe they should get a few Saab 2000's?

[topend3]

would seem a bit odd to have the saabs, 1 x ATR and now be getting Dash8's though as the new owner wants to be like Ansett maybe they are trying to have as many different types as well so they can really be like Ansett...

[Stationair8]

Plus a BAE-146, Fokker F-28 and B767 with Flight engineers position.
Then will be buying CRJ's for their regional subsidiary.

[Skystar320]

Maybe they should get a few Saab 2000's?

Only 55 built and they are all in operation........

[Skystar320]

would seem a bit odd to have the saabs, 1 x ATR and now be getting Dash8's though as the new owner wants to be like Ansett maybe they are trying to have as many different types as well so they can really be like Ansett...

Its called fleet rationalisation!!!!!! :ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

[Timber]

My info is: 63 Saab 2000, of which 1 crashed, 1 scrapped, 9 stored and the rest active. Not 100% confident of these numbers though....

[THE ORACLE]

Timber,
You are very close to being correct. Two were crashed - one shredded in an engineering accident and another had it's landing gear wiped off in an emergency landing. Nine were stored for a period, however, all available are now flying and making very good money for their operators. The Saab 2000 was ahead of it's time. It has superior performance to the Q400 and with the current historically high price of jet fuel it has proven to be an ideal aircraft for it's market niche. !!

[Skystar320]

There are eight for sale at the moment, though all with current lease's attached so Saab 2000's are out of the question.

[Alice Kiwican]

Anyone got any news on whether ****** have got there Q400's yet? I thought they were supposed to have arrived end of May? Are they recruiting for crew? Just curious!

[drunkensailor]

Any word on who they are going to con to fly them?
Perhaps the rest of RAC staff.:}