SAS Q400 gear collaps CPH 27/10

[helmat]

today an austrian dash8 Q400 made an emergency landing in vienna, it seems there were problems with the landing gear
the aircraft landed safely and according to the media passengers were evacuated via the emergency chutes (well done by the press, chutes for a dash 8 )

source (only german) http://www.orf.at/080225-22182/index.html

[W.R.A.I.T.H]

Swedish TV just reported, SAS won 1bn SEK (100 MEUR) in damages from Bombardier and Goodrich (not reported whether in court or settled). Simulatenneously an order for 27 new CRJ900 to replace the Q400s was signed, for 65 bn SEK, and further 24 options.

Link, Swedish

[Krister Lindblad]

SAS Group press release in English: http://se.yhp.waymaker.net/sasgroup/....asp?id=161672

[Finn47]

1 billion Swedish crowns is actually 106 million euro, if I´m not mistaken.

The news in English here:

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=830186

[PanamaJack]

Oh the zero´s.....

Yep, 1bn Swedish Kronor is correct, but doesnt that equal 100 000 000 EUR? (Approx)

[PPL_DK]

SAS receives compensation and order new aircraft for fleet replacement

From http://www.sasgroup.net/SASGroup/default.asp

2008-03-10
SAS receives compensation and order new aircraft for fleet replacement

SAS has agreed a settlement with Bombardier and Goodrich regarding the incidents involving the Dash aircraft in the autumn of 2007. The details of the agreement are confidential but SAS Group confirms the total financial compensation is slightly more than SEK 1 billion in the form of a cash payment and credits for future firm and optional aircraft orders. As part of the agreement, the Board of Directors of SAS AB has approved an order for 27 aircraft, with an option for a further 24 aircraft.

The new aircraft to be delivered by Bombardier will be jet aircraft of the type CRJ900 NextGen and turboprop aircraft of the type Q400 NextGen and they will replace the earlier operated Q400-fleet and other aircraft within the SAS Group. Scandinavian Airlines and Estonian Air will use the CRJ900 NextGen, and Wideroe and airBaltic will use the Q400 NextGen. Deliveries of the aircraft will be made successively in the next few years, commencing in the autumn of 2008 until 2011.

"We are very satisfied with the settlement with Bombardier, a leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. The firm order for 27 aircraft will bring a rejuvenated premium product to our customers. The CRJ900 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are well-suited to our operations in Northern Europe, where our customers expect comfortable and environmentally friendly travel," says SAS President and CEO Mats Jansson. Aircraft Firm order List price Options No. of Range Cruise speed
type firm order passengers
CRJ900 13 474 MUSD 17 up to 90 3070km 882 km/h
NextGen
Q400 14 356 MUSD 7 68-78 2404km 667 km/h
NextGen

See also www.sasgroup.net for images and more facts about the aircraft. Invitation to press conference

You are cordially invited to a press conference that will take place today at SAS Head Office, Frösundavik Stockholm at 12 noon, CET. Mats Jansson, President and CEO and John Dueholm, Deputy President and COO will participate and present the settlement with Bombardier.

Time: Monday, March 10th, at 12.00.
Place: SAS Head Office Frösundavik , Stockholm.

A live web cast of the press conference will also be available on the Internet at www.sasgroup.net SAS Group Corporate Communications

[Tordan]

Yep. That´s about correct. Just under 10 SEK for one €.

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

This press release says it's 13 CRJ900s and 14 Q400s. It also says the settlement terms are "confidential" - obviously not very so if the numbers are being reported per the link above....

Bombardier Sells 27 Jets And Turboprops To Sas And Its Affiliates

Toronto, March 10, 2008

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that SAS Scandinavian Airlines and three of its affiliate airlines have signed firm orders for 27 regional jets and turboprops and have taken options on an additional 24 aircraft. Estonian Air of Tallinn, Estonia and SAS have placed firm orders for 13 Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and have taken options on an additional 17, while Widerøe’s Flyveselskap A/S of Bodø, Norway and airBaltic of Riga, Latvia have ordered 14 Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners and have taken options on seven more.

The value of the combined firm orders based on CRJ900 NextGen and Q400 NextGen list prices is approximately $883 million U.S. The value of the orders could increase to approximately $1.75 billion U.S. if all options are exercised.

“The firm order for 27 aircraft will bring a rejuvenated premium product to our customers,” said Mats Jansson, President and CEO, SAS Group. “The CRJ900 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are well-suited to our operations in Northern Europe, where our customers expect comfortable and environmentally friendly travel."

“We are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with SAS and its partner airlines,” said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. “This order is not only a milestone in terms of size and value, but is a testament to the strength of our relationship. SAS has been a Bombardier customer for eight years, Widerøe for 50 years, and now we welcome airBaltic and Estonian Air to our family. We are also very pleased that SAS and its affiliates have chosen our NextGen family, both turboprops and jets, to augment their fleets.”

Olev Schults, Chairman, Supervisory Board, Estonian Air and Mr. Jansson said their airlines require aircraft with less capacity than their mainline jets. “The CRJ900 NextGen jet offers the best combination of performance, operating economics and passenger comfort,” they said.

Per Arne Watle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Widerøe and Bertolt Flick, President and Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic said the features of the Q400 NextGen airliner made the aircraft a very attractive addition to their fleets. “The performance, comfort and superb operating economics make the Q400 NextGen turboprop a highly effective product,” they said.

“airBaltic will start substituting its current Fokker 50 fleet with Q400 NextGen aircraft in 2009 thus increasing the capacity and efficiency of the airline’s regional operations,” added Mr. Flick.

The transactions announced today increase firm orders for CRJ900/CRJ900 NextGen airliners to 242 aircraft, with 145 delivered at January 31, 2008. Q400/Q400 NextGen aircraft firm orders now stand at 296 aircraft, with 190 delivered as of January 31, 2008.

With regard to the Q400 landing gear incidents in 2007 Bombardier, SAS and Goodrich, the manufacturer of the landing gear, have come to a mutually satisfactory agreement – the terms of which are confidential.

[Finn47]

The PR lingo never ceases to amaze me. Call it "Q400 NextGen" and presto, all of a sudden it´s "well suited to operations in the Nordic countries" again
However, I notice the new Q400 aircraft are not going to fly under the mainline SAS brand. That would have been too much to ask in my opinion.

[powerstall]

I agree, just another PR lingo.."Q400 NextGen"... gives a nice ring to it... but it still has to prove itself worthy and much, much, more better than the current Q400... less the main landing gear problems or it's back to the drawing board..."again"..

[WHBM]

Having a look at the Bombardier website to see how different a "Q400 NextGen" is from a "Q400 MainGearCollapser", it appears the only difference noted is a redesign of the cabin interior panels.

[W.R.A.I.T.H]

Q400 NextGen

That's all because of Wideroe, they were extremely unhappy to have their precious Dashes taken away, never having had an incident themselves. Their route network, typically the far up north places such as Longyearbyen with short runways and marginal weather, requires exactly such aircraft type and if they were to be forced onto the CRJ, they might just as well have to pack their business altogether.

Still methinks, with fuel prices hiking as they are, SAS are going to lose out on this 'conversion' in the long run.

[M609]

Longyearbyen

???? Since when does WIF fly to Longyear?

And:

The majority (if not all) of the Q400 destinations in Norway were airfields which has daily 737 services with other airlines!

[Finn47]

The Accident Investigation Board of Denmark investigators haven´t finished their work yet, and have only published preliminary reports on the two accidents, but when they do, you will find the reports here:

http://www.hcl.dk/sw593.asp

[W.R.A.I.T.H]

Longyearbyen ???? Since when does WIF fly to Longyear?

And:

The majority (if not all) of the Q400 destinations in Norway were airfields which has daily 737 services with other airlines!

Sorry, that was meant to be Hammerfest. True about the smaller places being served with the smaller DH8's, but again what WF base their ops on is having a reasonably uniform fleet perfectly suited to serve virtually any Norwegian airport, hence the competitive edge. Mixing in the CRJs would give them hard times no doubt about it.

[powerstall]

...in regards to the rising fuel cost aspect.... would it be better flying equipment that runs a little bit more fuel... rather than having an accident waiting to happen which could endanger lives and hundreds of legal cases which could in-turn bury the airline in bankruptcy? and add to that a few of our lads losing their jobs?

just my two cents...

[W.R.A.I.T.H]

Oh so true, the ubiquitous cost of safety.

Then again, to imply that the Q400 is inherently unsafe is a little early and while i'm drawing pure speculations here, I still think the particular salty moist environment at CPH and corrosion of actuator bolts will get a mention in the report. Let us not get into that again. The history of Q400 at WF had been spotless nevermind the rough nature they operated in. And let's not forget that the cited reason for SAS dropping the dashes was the lack of confidence in the type among customers, caused by the load of bad publicity the type received from the day they turned up at Kastrup. Nothing safety related. I bet there was a lot of pondering in the higher SAS circles whether the PR could be bent in any way so as to have the Q4s back and not lose face in public. They definitely get my star for policy integrity though I'm going to miss the dash.

[rotornut]

Good news - they kissed and made up... and bought some more airplanes:

Bombardier Sells 27 Jets And Turboprops To SAS And Its Affiliates

Toronto, March 10, 2008

Firm orders are for 13 CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and 14 Q400 NextGen turboprops
Contract includes options for an additional 24 aircraft

Claims related to Q400 incidents settled in mutually satisfactory agreement
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that SAS Scandinavian Airlines and three of its affiliate airlines have signed firm orders for 27 regional jets and turboprops and have taken options on an additional 24 aircraft. Estonian Air of Tallinn, Estonia and SAS have placed firm orders for 13 Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen regional jets and have taken options on an additional 17, while Widerøe’s Flyveselskap A/S of Bodø, Norway and airBaltic of Riga, Latvia have ordered 14 Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners and have taken options on seven more.

The value of the combined firm orders based on CRJ900 NextGen and Q400 NextGen list prices is approximately $883 million U.S. The value of the orders could increase to approximately $1.75 billion U.S. if all options are exercised.

“The firm order for 27 aircraft will bring a rejuvenated premium product to our customers,” said Mats Jansson, President and CEO, SAS Group. “The CRJ900 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are well-suited to our operations in Northern Europe, where our customers expect comfortable and environmentally friendly travel."

“We are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with SAS and its partner airlines,” said Steven Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. “This order is not only a milestone in terms of size and value, but is a testament to the strength of our relationship. SAS has been a Bombardier customer for eight years, Widerøe for 50 years, and now we welcome airBaltic and Estonian Air to our family. We are also very pleased that SAS and its affiliates have chosen our NextGen family, both turboprops and jets, to augment their fleets.”

Olev Schults, Chairman, Supervisory Board, Estonian Air and Mr. Jansson said their airlines require aircraft with less capacity than their mainline jets. “The CRJ900 NextGen jet offers the best combination of performance, operating economics and passenger comfort,” they said.

Per Arne Watle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Widerøe and Bertolt Flick, President and Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic said the features of the Q400 NextGen airliner made the aircraft a very attractive addition to their fleets. “The performance, comfort and superb operating economics make the Q400 NextGen turboprop a highly effective product,” they said.

“airBaltic will start substituting its current Fokker 50 fleet with Q400 NextGen aircraft in 2009 thus increasing the capacity and efficiency of the airline’s regional operations,” added Mr. Flick.

The transactions announced today increase firm orders for CRJ900/CRJ900 NextGen airliners to 242 aircraft, with 145 delivered at January 31, 2008. Q400/Q400 NextGen aircraft firm orders now stand at 296 aircraft, with 190 delivered as of January 31, 2008.

With regard to the Q400 landing gear incidents in 2007 Bombardier, SAS and Goodrich, the manufacturer of the landing gear, have come to a mutually satisfactory agreement – the terms of which are confidential.

CRJ NextGen Aircraft
Bombardier’s CRJ NextGen aircraft were launched in 2007 and are achieving improved economics compared to earlier CRJ Series aircraft. These improvements come from fuel burn savings of up to four per cent and direct maintenance cost reductions achieved through lower airframe maintenance requirements. Maintenance schedule intervals have been increased, and tasks have been harmonized to reduce aircraft down time and labour over the life of the aircraft.
With their reduced fuel burn, the CRJ NextGen aircraft are responding to today’s environmental challenges by offering further reduction to green house gas emissions compared to their nearest competitors.

CRJ NextGen aircraft interiors include improvements designed with the overall passenger experience in mind. The passenger windows have been enlarged and the overhead bins have been modified to accommodate larger roller bags as well as optimized to store more bags. The addition of LED lighting has brightened the cabin environment while highlighting the improved aesthetics achieved with the new ceiling panel design and dished window sidewalls.

Q400 NextGen Aircraft
The new Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner is the next step in the continuing evolution of the Q400 aircraft. Revised in the same spirit as the CRJ NextGen aircraft family, the Q400 NextGen aircraft remains one of the most technologically advanced turboprop aircraft. As with the CRJ NextGen aircraft family, the overall cabin environment of the Q400 NextGen aircraft will be enhanced with the introduction of LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead bins. Combining these features with the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system will give the Q400 NextGen passenger an even more pleasant cabin experience.
Operating costs of the Q400 NextGen airliner, already among the lowest of any regional aircraft, will be made even lower by increasing the scheduled maintenance intervals and further optimizing maintenance tasks. The Q400 NextGen airliner Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) will be updated to reflect flight test experience which has shown that the fuel burn under certain operating conditions is lower than predicted.

Like Bombardier's other regional aircraft products, Q400 NextGen aircraft external noise is well below the maximum permitted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 16 Ch. 4, and U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 36 Stage 4. Q400 NextGen aircraft also produce very low carbon dioxide and other gaseous emissions.

[pineridge]

Sas Dhc-8 400

To W.R.A.I.T.H. :

" Sorry, that was meant to be Hammerfest. "
I am sure that the 400 could land in Hammerfest but you would need to drive it out on a flat-bed truck, after finding all the pieces.(Hammerfest ENHF-RW 05/23 799 metres )
Widerøe have two departments; the short runway division, operating DHC-8 100`s, and the regional division,operating DHC 300`s and 400`s. Destinations such as Aberdeen, Newcastle, Copenhagen, Torp, Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger are jet capable airports and are served by the 400 type. A CRJ or something similar would suit the regional operation nicely, although Widerøe`s routes in Norway are a little thin for jet ecomomics.

[threemiles]

Still methinks, with fuel prices hiking as they are, SAS are going to lose out on this 'conversion' in the long run.

More than true for most of the SAS routes that were flown before the Q400 vanished (in the menatime flown by 146, CRJ100, 737-600, Md87 etc.). Too short for a CRJ900. To few pax loads.