8B775ZQ From St. Kitts and Nevis, joined Aug 2005, 191 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 3895 times:
I'm new to the forum and i was just wondering,why is it that the DHC8 series of aircraft seems to be so popular with caribbean airlines i.e LIAT,CARIBBEAN STAR as opposed to say the ATR42-72 series.
DLPMMM From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 3529 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 3864 times:
The Dash-8 is a STOL (Short Take-Off/Landing) aircraft so it works well with many of the smaller airports in the carribean. It is also quite fuel efficient when compared to RJs. Since the distances are usually relatively short, the slower airspeed is not much of a draw back.
NASBWI From Bahamas, joined Feb 2005, 1254 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3865 times:
I'm not an expert on pricing, but it could be that the non-French colonies had a better financial deal when they were in the market for an aircraft that could haul 50+ pax as well as handle the unprepared runways of some of their destinations. I've heard from some people that the DHC-8 series (excluding the Q400) are less expensive than the ATRs (new).
8B775ZQ From St. Kitts and Nevis, joined Aug 2005, 191 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3809 times:
Thanks for the replies,but the question is still not totally answered.Both the DHC8 and the ATR42-72 have STOL capabilities but with the exception of AIR CARAIBES and AMERICAN EAGLE the ATR's are not that widely used in the caribbean area.
Vfw614 From Germany, joined Dec 2001, 3593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3805 times:
Quoting 1MillionFlyer (Reply 3): the Dash 8's are also hugely popular in Hawaii for their STOL capabilities as well.
Hmm, Island Air used to have only five of them and I am not sure if more than two of the airports they serve really require STOL aircraft.
Quoting 8B775ZQ (Thread starter): I'm new to the forum and i was just wondering,why is it that the DHC8 series of aircraft seems to be so popular with caribbean airlines i.e LIAT,CARIBBEAN STAR as opposed to say the ATR42-72 series.
8B775ZQ From St. Kitts and Nevis, joined Aug 2005, 191 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3697 times:
thanks Vfw614.
I'm still trying to get the hang of this.
8B775ZQ From St. Kitts and Nevis, joined Aug 2005, 191 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 3656 times:
Ok Vfw614 i'll admit you got me on that count but the the thing is we here in the caribbean see more of the airlines that fly the dehavilland than we see of those flying atr.With the exception of american eagle all those other atr operators don't really fly to much of the caribbean region.They mainly stick to their department and antillean islands in the case of the french and dutch airlines and cuba is pretty much a region unto itself.
8B775ZQ From St. Kitts and Nevis, joined Aug 2005, 191 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 3620 times:
MAH4546 Then maybe you would care to explain to me why EXECUTIVE AIRLINES which is AMERICAN EAGLE for those of us that "actually" live in the caribbean had an aircraft at SJU doing test flights as late as just last year.
Olympus69 From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 1737 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3540 times:
Quoting 8B775ZQ (Reply 15): MAH4546 Then maybe you would care to explain to me why EXECUTIVE AIRLINES which is AMERICAN EAGLE for those of us that "actually" live in the caribbean had an aircraft at SJU doing test flights as late as just last year.
Just because they were doing tests LAST year doesn't necessarily mean they are still considering it THIS year.
I would find your assumption more believable if it had said "as late as last week".
HZ747300 From Hong Kong, joined Mar 2004, 1597 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3491 times:
Here is something to add. In the book, Ask a Pilot, the gentleman who wrote it is, or was, a commercial pilot for American Eagle I believe. Anyways, it was a regional airline and he flew the ATR. One of the stories he tells is that in the summer it was so hot in the ATR that he took off his shirt. He complained that the air conditioning on the ATR is one of the worst designs of mankind and was not near enough air to cool down the plane on a hot midwestern day.
Maybe if the Dash-8 air works better, it might be a more logical choice as it is hot in the Carribbean--but I wouldn't know. I have only been to Panama (which was blazing hot & humid, but the girls were pretty), and I have only flown in a Dash-8 thrice (LGA-Ithaca, Ithaca-LGA, and ISP-PHL)... All were in the winter.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 18, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3472 times:
Quoting 8B775ZQ (Reply 15): Then maybe you would care to explain to me why EXECUTIVE AIRLINES which is AMERICAN EAGLE for those of us that "actually" live in the caribbean had an aircraft at SJU doing test flights as late as just last year.
No idea why. It could be that DeHallivand brought it down to show them.
They still aren't getting any Dash-8's. They love their ATR fleet's cargo capabilities.
Vfw614 From Germany, joined Dec 2001, 3593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 19, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3454 times:
As for the cargo aspect, the ATR42 probably is somewhat better because the cargo department has the same size, bu need to accommodate 20 pax less. There were issues here in Germany for Eurowings, which used to be europe biggest ATR operator, with the ATR72 because from time time luggage had to be left behind on hub-feeder flights because of the size of the cargo compartment.
LimaFoxTango From Antigua and Barbuda, joined Jun 2004, 693 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3442 times:
Quoting 8B775ZQ (Reply 15): MAH4546 Then maybe you would care to explain to me why EXECUTIVE AIRLINES which is AMERICAN EAGLE for those of us that "actually" live in the caribbean had an aircraft at SJU doing test flights as late as just last year.
The same aircraft was in ANU doing test flights for LIAT and CStar. I guess Bombardier was just doing a Caribbean tour of the aircraft. That doesnt mean any airline, whether LIAT, Star or Eagle has any firm interest in the Q400.
You are said to be a good pilot when your take-off's equal your landings.
Vfw614 From Germany, joined Dec 2001, 3593 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3409 times:
Given the nature of the operation of most airlines, I doubt it would make much sense to operate the Q400 unless you really need the extra seats. On those shorts hops, its superior speed is of no advantage.
In addition, with over 31m in length and its rather delicate manoeuvering characteristics, it might be a bit difficult to handle at the smaller airfields.
LimaFoxTango From Antigua and Barbuda, joined Jun 2004, 693 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 3389 times:
If LIAT or CStar, for example, were to ever get Q400, they wouldnt be placed on the routes that the 100's and 300's are operating unless maybe they have overbooked a flight or have backed-up luggage. Other than that, the Q400's will be doing routes such as ANU-BGI, ANU-POS, ANU-GEO, ANU-SDQ, ANU-MBJ/KIN etc. As a side note, you would see notice all the flights i've stated starts in ANU. That is because LIAT and CStar are based here in ANU.
You are said to be a good pilot when your take-off's equal your landings.
You forgot Bahamasair, with a fleet of (I think) 6 or 7 DHC-8-300s. Still doesn't match the ATR fleet in terms of size, but keep in mind (relatively speaking) that Executive is but one airline, so the ratio is now 7:5, and the airplane ratio gap is closing.
Fierce, Fabulous, and Flawless ;)
25 8B775ZQ: LIAT is in no financial position to acquire a plane such as the DHC8-400.They're are constantly in debt and require constant financial aids from carib
26 NASBWI: That didn't stop other airlines from acquiring new aircraft - US Airways & Bahamasair come to mind.
27 Vfw614: OK, another headcount after doing another research - DHC8: Caribbean Sun -1, BWIA -3, Air Jamaica -2, LIAT -1, Bahamasair +7 ATR: Bonairexpress +1 Bah
28 8B775ZQ: That minus one for caribbean sun might be the aircraft that is currently operating for it's sister airline caribbean star but still retains the caribb
29 Fpofllflyboi: Perhaps that explains why they codeshare. Haha
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