Air Nelson world's 2nd biggest Q300 operator??
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The Iraq minister of information, I love that dude. He was the ultimate optimist. "we have the Americans running in fear"
Im sure kiwis would love to be riding around in the toys they have in Europe, doubt they would want to pay for it though. They would have sent NZ operators broke when the oil price shot up and they would struggle in and out of places like Napier, Nelson and New Plymouth in summer.
No offence here but in NZ the Q doesnt stand for quiet, it stands for "we dont wont people to associate this aircraft to the unfortunate ansett aircraft" Go the PR people eh? Pretty stupid considering Dash 8 is plastered all through it.
remoak - 1 UNS FMS is fitted per aircraft.
Im sure kiwis would love to be riding around in the toys they have in Europe, doubt they would want to pay for it though. They would have sent NZ operators broke when the oil price shot up and they would struggle in and out of places like Napier, Nelson and New Plymouth in summer.
No offence here but in NZ the Q doesnt stand for quiet, it stands for "we dont wont people to associate this aircraft to the unfortunate ansett aircraft" Go the PR people eh? Pretty stupid considering Dash 8 is plastered all through it.
remoak - 1 UNS FMS is fitted per aircraft.
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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
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
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ZK-NSN
I did say proper FMS. The UNS 1C fitted to the Dash hardly qualifies, it's basically just a tarted-up GNS-X. Same thing is fitted to 146s. Pretty low tech.
I did say proper FMS. The UNS 1C fitted to the Dash hardly qualifies, it's basically just a tarted-up GNS-X. Same thing is fitted to 146s. Pretty low tech.
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remoak... you FMS snob.....
The Universal does a decent job... it's kept my feet dry numerous occasions when plying oceanic airspace.... when coupled to the correct (and expensive) hardware, can provide a equal if not better service than the Smiths FMC fitted to the B737 NG...
The Universal does a decent job... it's kept my feet dry numerous occasions when plying oceanic airspace.... when coupled to the correct (and expensive) hardware, can provide a equal if not better service than the Smiths FMC fitted to the B737 NG...
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Kiwis flying around on the new Dashes might think they are getting a luxury ride, but if they could see what most Euro (and American) commuters ride in, they would be green with envy! The CRJ being one of my favourites...
TT
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Ahhh you have the "super" version, eh? I'm sure you'll be fine then. Is it actually connected to anything...? 
Universal systems are pretty good actually, much better than the GNS-X systems. However if you want a "real" FMS, look at something like the Primus 2000 or the Honeywell Pegasus. A proper FMS is more than just a nav box.
What did you do to that Westwind?
TT
Not so much, more the EMB170/190. The 170 is London City-qualified (5.5 degree glideslope, 1200m) so it shouldn't have any problems with regional NZ airports.
The CRJ may be out of production, but there are still over 1000 of them in service and they are a nice ride!
Universal systems are pretty good actually, much better than the GNS-X systems. However if you want a "real" FMS, look at something like the Primus 2000 or the Honeywell Pegasus. A proper FMS is more than just a nav box.
What did you do to that Westwind?
TT
You mean the 50 seat regional jets that are more or less out of production now because of a lack of orders?
The CRJ may be out of production, but there are still over 1000 of them in service and they are a nice ride!
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Is it actually connected to anything...?
A proper FMS is more than just a nav box.
Haughtney - what if you have both? just out of intrest of course.
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After having flown the Dash 200/300 and 400, also the A319/320/321 and the B777 I can honestly say that the Dash 8 was cracking good fun, I much prefered the 300 to the 400 as it was a nice 'solid' little flyer. If I could of been paid the same to stay on the dash then I would have stayed. All this bollocks about FMS/FMGC mine is better than yours is crappola, the dash 8 system is perfectly adequate for what it does. The dash is a great little piece of kit that suits the New Zealand market well, those of you that are flying it, just enjoy the experience, once you get to the bigger airliners it becomes all a bit more boring and routine
And Haughty, like you I am in a job now where my big concern is how good is the hotel room going to be!!..........I would still rather be a home though
And Haughty, like you I am in a job now where my big concern is how good is the hotel room going to be!!..........I would still rather be a home though
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NSN, if you have both....I'd be heading down the clinic pronto....before anything falls off
That Westwind looks a lot like an EC-135 I went for a ride in a while back
As for sophistication.....heres one with the lights off
And the lights on...
No more FMS's just a cursor, and a mouse click
We even smoked a B777 today....slow old things trundling along at .84
That Westwind looks a lot like an EC-135 I went for a ride in a while back
As for sophistication.....heres one with the lights off
And the lights on...
No more FMS's just a cursor, and a mouse click
We even smoked a B777 today....slow old things trundling along at .84
And the operator with the largest number of Q400's is !!!!!!!
Flybe Takes Delivery of Its 50th Bombardier Q400 Airliner
Aircraft equipped with Ultra Electronics' 1,000th Active Noise Control System
(April 20, 2009) -- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that U.K. airline Flybe has taken delivery of its 50th Q400 airliner. The aircraft is equipped with the 1,000th installation of Ultra Electronics' Active Noise Control (ANC) system which is called the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system on Q400 and other Bombardier Q-Series aircraft. Since the introduction of the ANVS system to Bombardier's Dash 8 aircraft in 1996, the aircraft have been known as Q-Series airliners, signaling a new era in turboprop passenger comfort. The "Q" means quiet.
Flybe, previously known as British European, placed an initial order for four Q400 airliners in March 1999. Subsequent orders were announced in 2003, 2005 and 2007, confirming Flybe as the largest operator of the aircraft type. Flybe which operates 190 routes in 13 countries, carried 7.5 million passengers in 2008 and is now the largest regional airline in Europe.
In the meantime, Flybe has also become a leader in environmental consciousness and unveiled the aviation industry's first and only eco-labeling program back in 2007. The eco-labels, modeled on those used in the sale of appliances like fridges, microwaves and washing machines, show a full range of environmental indicators per aircraft.
"The Bombardier Q400 airliner has been the dominant factor in our growth and success," said Jim French, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Flybe. "It has excellent operating economics, amazing performance, and the ANVS system contributes significantly to its outstanding passenger comfort."
"Flybe operates the largest fleet of the world's most technologically advanced turboprop," said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The Q400 airliner is optimized for short-haul service and Flybe's successful experience with our high-speed turboprop's capabilities in European markets has set a standard which other airlines around the world can follow."
Source : Bombadier Aerospace
Aircraft equipped with Ultra Electronics' 1,000th Active Noise Control System
(April 20, 2009) -- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that U.K. airline Flybe has taken delivery of its 50th Q400 airliner. The aircraft is equipped with the 1,000th installation of Ultra Electronics' Active Noise Control (ANC) system which is called the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system on Q400 and other Bombardier Q-Series aircraft. Since the introduction of the ANVS system to Bombardier's Dash 8 aircraft in 1996, the aircraft have been known as Q-Series airliners, signaling a new era in turboprop passenger comfort. The "Q" means quiet.
Flybe, previously known as British European, placed an initial order for four Q400 airliners in March 1999. Subsequent orders were announced in 2003, 2005 and 2007, confirming Flybe as the largest operator of the aircraft type. Flybe which operates 190 routes in 13 countries, carried 7.5 million passengers in 2008 and is now the largest regional airline in Europe.
In the meantime, Flybe has also become a leader in environmental consciousness and unveiled the aviation industry's first and only eco-labeling program back in 2007. The eco-labels, modeled on those used in the sale of appliances like fridges, microwaves and washing machines, show a full range of environmental indicators per aircraft.
"The Bombardier Q400 airliner has been the dominant factor in our growth and success," said Jim French, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Flybe. "It has excellent operating economics, amazing performance, and the ANVS system contributes significantly to its outstanding passenger comfort."
"Flybe operates the largest fleet of the world's most technologically advanced turboprop," said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The Q400 airliner is optimized for short-haul service and Flybe's successful experience with our high-speed turboprop's capabilities in European markets has set a standard which other airlines around the world can follow."
Source : Bombadier Aerospace
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Not sure what your point is. The ANVS on the Q400 is a real POS. Not sure about recent times, but when I was at flybe the system was normally inop. It would fail, get deferred forever, and then the new box would fail within a week or so. The aircraft is very noisy without it.
There were also major issues with prop balance. When I was there, the props had to be balanced once a week to keep the vibration under control
The Q400 is also a cheap aircraft rather than a good one. It would be dead and buried if flybe hadn't bought it, and they only did so because they got it at fire sale prices. Bombardier were going to close the factory until flybe came along - nobody else wanted it and there have been a lot of issues with it.
There were also major issues with prop balance. When I was there, the props had to be balanced once a week to keep the vibration under control
The Q400 is also a cheap aircraft rather than a good one. It would be dead and buried if flybe hadn't bought it, and they only did so because they got it at fire sale prices. Bombardier were going to close the factory until flybe came along - nobody else wanted it and there have been a lot of issues with it.
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I hear the Q400 is a good machine so long as you have a good program designed around preventative maintenance on areas like props, engines, landing gear and deice. So nothing major to worry about. Sounds like an oldish ATR!!!
