Mah584jr From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 484 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 9 months 6 days ago) and read 5774 times:
It seems that US is in talks with Bombardier for an order of Q series planes. Is this order really necessary? Aren't turboprops more of a thing of the past with the major US carriers? Just wanted to hear what y'all thought. Also what of the progress of CRJ900 talks? A link is provided below.
FCYTravis From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 1191 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 6 days ago) and read 5767 times:
No, turboprops are not a thing of the past - in fact it's possible they're poised to make a comeback. Props are much more efficient than regional jets on short-haul flights, and the speed advantage of a jet is negligible on hops like PHL-LGA and CLT-ILM.
US Airways has long been one of the largest users of props, given the multitude of very short and thin spokes they fly. Their wholly-owned Piedmont Airlines express carrier currently flies more than 50 Dash-8s, almost all of which are well into their third decade of service and showing it.
Doug Parker is on record as saying that US has too many regional jets in service, and the airline is already set to remove 20 Chautauqua-operated 50-seat ERJs from the Express fleet. New props would make perfect sense for Piedmont and US.
USAir A321 service now departing for SFO with fuel stops in CAK, COS and RNO. Enjoy your flight.
ADXMatt From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 924 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 5672 times:
While I have not seen an official announcement from CAL the following is on CommutAir/Continental Connection's website....
"During 2006 the Company will be adding a second, larger, aircraft type to its fleet. The new aircraft will be the Bombardier Q200. The Q200, known as “the Quiet one”, offers passengers the speed and comfort of a jet with the efficiencies of a turbo-prop. Beginning in early 2007 the new fleet will be placed into revenue service at Continental’s CLE hub."
It doesn't say how many but rumor is it will take up the difference in # of RJ's that ExpressJet is keeping compared to the number that Chataqua (sp?) is replacing. I also heard rumors on the Q400.
COERJ145 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1419 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 5569 times:
Quoting ADXMatt (Reply 2):
It doesn't say how many but rumor is it will take up the difference in # of RJ's that ExpressJet is keeping compared to the number that Chataqua (sp?) is replacing. I also heard rumors on the Q400.
According to Airlinepilotcentral.com, It should be 16 Q200s from Horizon Air. In regards to removing the ERJs, they should remove the some of the dreaded CRJs. At least they don't use them on the 3+hr flights like NW, UA, or DL.
Salomon From Canada, joined Jun 2006, 205 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 5470 times:
Quoting Mah584jr (Thread starter): Aren't turboprops more of a thing of the past with the major US carriers?
In this months Airliner World issue, there is a small article about Saab Leasing where the President and Chief Executive of Saab Aircraft Leasing (M. Magnusson) says: ''Over a 200nm sector, a turboprop uses half the fuel of a jet''.
I wish he had given more details (numbers) but the general idea stays that turboprops use less expen$ive gaz.
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4503 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 5383 times:
Quoting ADXMatt (Reply 2): Beginning in early 2007 the new fleet will be placed into revenue service at Continental’s CLE hub."
Beginning in early 2007, CO is also expected to add 24 70-passenger turboprops split between their IAH and EWR hubs.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7560 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 5373 times:
I have to wonder is Saab actually considering the possibility of re-opening their Saab 340/2000 line, especially now with big orders coming in for the Bombardier Dash 8 Q300/Q400 series and ATR-42/72 series.
CentPIT From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 990 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 5329 times:
Quoting FCYTravis (Reply 1): Props are much more efficient than regional jets on short-haul flights, and the speed advantage of a jet is negligible on hops like PHL-LGA and CLT-ILM.
I have to agree. These new props would be perfect for express routes in PHL, CLT, and especially PIT!
Pittsburgh International: US Airways---160 daily departures! (52 destinations)
FlyDreamliner From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2759 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 5250 times:
Quoting Saab2000 (Reply 7): It would be great to see a comeback of the SAAB2000.
The Saab 2000 was the finest turboprop flying when it went out...it has speed to match a regional jet and the economics of a prop. It was comofortable, though not as quiet as the new Q's with their active noise reduction. I'd love to see Saab 2000 and even a stretched version come out - hopefully also with active noise reduction.
"Let the world change you, and you can change the world"
Bnamaxx From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 5212 times:
Quoting Mah584jr (Thread starter): Aren't turboprops more of a thing of the past with the major US carriers?
Just ask QX about the DH4. Not only is it proving to be more economical than RJ's on many routes, it is a winner with the pax. Those who predicted the death of the turboprop should really be eating their words. I think as more of these go into service, whatever bias the American traveling public has against propeller driven aircraft will start to go away. US service on the east coast with the DH4 would be ideal.
Saab2000 From Switzerland, joined Jun 2001, 1551 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 5212 times:
The SB-20 (SAAB2000) did have active noise reduction. I have never flown on a Dash-8 Q400 so I can't compare.
You are 100% correct though on the speed. We trued out at 360 or so KTAS.
I fly now frequently on such short routes as PHL-ELM, PHL-ITH, PHL-BGM, etc. and there is no reason to fly such short flights on a jet, where most of the time is spent below 10,000 feet and the extra speed is not relevant. Like driving an F1 car in heavy traffic.
Saab2000 From Switzerland, joined Jun 2001, 1551 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 5173 times:
The SAAB2000 was certified for 55 seats - a strange number. We operated them at Crossair/SWISS with 50 seats.
50-seat aircraft are not a dead deal. They are right for some markets which simply don't support larger planes. The SAAB with more than 50 or so seats would be too long - like a CRJ with 90....
Mah584jr From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 484 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 5033 times:
The interior of the plane looks very nice. It looks like it would be a comfortable journey aboard the Q400. It's so long for a tprop. Reminds of an RJ almost.
Supa7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 5002 times:
Well, it will be interesting whether US decides to increase their Dash-8-300 fleet or go Q400.
The Bombardier Dash seats are so terrible. Surely they could do a 66 seat Q400 with nice, luxurious seats. That would go a long way to making passengers enjoy the Q400 - giving some of the efficiency back in the form of space and a nice seat. Then, you have a very good short hopper.
Steeler83 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 8523 posts, RR: 22 Reply 20, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 5002 times:
Quoting Saab2000 (Reply 15): The SAAB with more than 50 or so seats would be too long - like a CRJ with 90....
Which would be redundant. Then it might as well be a mainline aircraft - up to an E90/95 at least, which US operates as mainline aircraft.
Even though out of production as of the '70s, throw in the DC9 here as well, and that's mainline with roughly 80-90 seats minimum, depending on model (DC9-10,31, 50, etc...)
Do not bring stranger girt into your room. The stranger girt is dangerous, it will hurt your life.
ERAUgrad02 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 1227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 4925 times:
Quoting FCYTravis (Reply 1): No, turboprops are not a thing of the past - in fact it's possible they're poised to make a comeback. Props are much more efficient than regional jets on short-haul flights, and the speed advantage of a jet is negligible on hops like PHL-LGA and CLT-ILM.
um u no how many dash 8's they'd need to run flights from ILM-CLT? I live in wilmington and they fill up every crj-900 and 737 we get in here to CLT. Before US had to start returning 737's back to lessors we got 6 737's a day and 3 crj's. US is adding 2 737-400's in late sept. So i doubt they'll use them here. Now OAJ, EWN, PGV, FLO, FAY, AVL. Places like that. You bet. If they gave us dash 8's because of distance then they better give stations like GSO and RDU them too huh? they are even closer to CLT than we are. In fact they board less than we to to CLT.
CentPIT From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 990 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 4902 times:
Quoting ERAUgrad02 (Reply 21): Before US had to start returning 737's back to lessors we got 6 737's a day and 3 crj's. US is adding 2 737-400's in late sept. So i doubt they'll use them here.
Ok, good! I am thinking of flying into Wilmington on stand-by. I guess there is no chance of me getting a seat!
Pittsburgh International: US Airways---160 daily departures! (52 destinations)
ADXMatt From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 924 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 4750 times:
Quoting MasseyBrown (Reply 5): Beginning in early 2007, CO is also expected to add 24 70-passenger turboprops split between their IAH and EWR hubs
While I heard about this from the media it will be interesting to see how CAL gets around the scope clause in the dispatchers CBA. (50 seats) I don't know what the Pilots/FA contracts state. Unless of course the Q400 is flown under the mainline certificate which I seriously doubt.
FCYTravis From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 1191 posts, RR: 7 Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 4689 times:
Quoting ERAUgrad02 (Reply 21): um u no how many dash 8's they'd need to run flights from ILM-CLT?
I was simply using that distance of a flight as an example.
USAir A321 service now departing for SFO with fuel stops in CAK, COS and RNO. Enjoy your flight.
25 MCOflyer: Agreed. I fly PHL-ELM on DHC-3 and return on an CRJ. Its ridiculous. No drink service on the CRJ. I'll take a Dash ANY day over a CRJ on that run. No
26 EXAAUADL: high fuel means they are making a comeback...US isnt the only legacy carrier interested in the Q400 either
27 777WT: Those 20 Chaq. operated 50 seats ERJ's are going to be put into CO colors and fly for CO Express. The ERJ-175 are replacing those 145's that is being
28 TumbledGyro: Too bad the US Dornier 328s won't be making a comeback. I know they are a little short on seating capacity in today's standards, but that plane was a
29 FCYTravis: Yes, that's correct - more than replacing, really, given that there will be 30 175s...
30 MasseyBrown: I believe the pilots' scope clause applies only to jets, not to turboprops. Don't know about the dispatchers.
31 PlanesNTrains: If true, any thoughts to what Horizon Air might be replacing them with. I'd imagine Q400's, but what do you do with all those Q200 flights in the mea
32 777WT: What I'm not sure is that when Chq. flies for CO starting in Jan. 2007, will any of them come to LGA? Expressjet currently flies a few 145's to LGA a
33 MCOflyer: They use them in MCO, PHL, PIT, IND, FLL, IAH, ORD, and many other station that they serve with the E170. So I'd say the answer is yes unless they do
34 MCOflyer: I loved flying them into ELM. It's a very comfortable ride. I agree with you 100%. MCOflyer
35 CentPIT: Yeah, unless there isn't an available gate, I don't get it? CRJs and ERJs even use the jet bridge in Pittsburgh. LGA does have a lot less room than P
36 TOLtommy: I haven't flown on the Q400, but I've spent plenty of time on Piedmonts various Dashes. Yes, they are worn, but the cabin of a Dash is more comfortab
37 MasseyBrown: FWIW, in an older thread, a Piedmont mx guy said the "noise cancelling technology" is a maintenance problem and is inoperative as often as not.
38 777WT: All the US airways (mainline and express) have jetbridges and yet they look like they've been left there with just the stair attachted to it to walk
39 777WT: All of US Airways terminals at LGA uses jetbridges. But where the US Airways Express operates, CRJ's, ERJ-135 and 145, Dash 8, Saab 340, Beech 1900 a
40 Steeler83: And that is a really neat pic at that!
41 MesaMXORD: Curious to what you had to fix.. I have been in that exact location too many times to remember...... Is this just a better prop sync and better insul
42 EMBQA: I'd say it's a thing of the past since US just placed an order for the E190... and RP just placed an order for the E175 The tooling and production sp
43 COERJ145: They don't. Possibly an aircraft sub? The ERJ-145s are operated by Chautaqua, which also operates the 135s under DL Conn.
44 Malaysia: I would love to see Ilyushin IL-114s.
45 CentPIT: Yeah in PIT the CRJ and ERJ aircraft just attach to the jetbridge. The steps are only used to walk into the jetbridges for the Saabs, BE1s, and the D
46 MasseyBrown: No, it's an active system, explained here: http://www.q400.com/q400/en/quiet.jsp
47 Yellowstone: Perhaps if more airlines introduced turboprop airliners, there would be less of an issue with passengers viewing them as old/noisy/unsafe. This could
48 FCYTravis: Not true. The PSA pilots put together a counter-offer and have been in talks with PSA management for the last three days. I think US is really desper
49 FCYTravis: As for the jetbridge thing at LGA, I think it's because they have way more express parking slots than they have jetbridges to serve them. The terminal
50 Turkee: [quote=Mah584jr,reply=9]Have any of you flown in the new Q series aircraft? What do you think of it? It sounds like a great fit for US[quote] I've tra
51 777WT: Thanks! it came from my Razr V3m cell phone.
52 777WT: Lighting strike inspection of the elevator trim/acutator, had to remove the fairing cover to get access. It was over 3-4 weeks ago. This aircraft got
53 777WT: There are at least two in Chq. fleet. One is a US Airways Express and the other is a netural spare (white plane with just a blue tail). The US Airway
54 EMBQA: There are NO E135's is Chautauquas fleet in USAirways colors. None..!! The first two 'spare' E135's CHQ got were converted Legacy Shuttles from short
55 DashTrash: The CRJ900 thing isn't dead yet. Both sides are still talking, trying to bring them to PSA. The EMB-190 order came before the 900 issue. The NVS on th
56 TOLtommy: Since PDT doesn't have any dash-8's with the new technology, I'd have to say that mech was just pontificating. Kinda like the non-rev FA telling you
57 DashTrash: The PDT -200s have the NVS, but it's deactivated. The controls for it are on the FA panel and have deactivated stickers on them. The circurt breakers
58 TOLtommy: The Piedmont -200's are not 200Q's are they? Far too old, since they are removing from the fleet, right? I'm not certain, but I'd bet the NVS system o
59 DashTrash: There is no Q listed on the registration in the aircraft. All our Dashes are listed as either DHC-8-102, DHC-8-201, or DHC-8-311 in our ops specs. I d
60 CRJ900: So, pax are unable to wash their hands after being on the can? Does the FA stand outside the lav with a basket of moist towels or something instead,
61 DashTrash: There are Sani-wipes in the lavs, as well as a bottle of the waterless liquid hand sanitizer on the wall above the trash. You can thank AFA for getti
62 Steeler83: shoot, those cell phones sure are becommin versatile aren't they... camera, computer, calendar, and oh yeah, a phone!!! Still, nice pic of a T-tail b
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 484 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jun 2006, 205 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Jun 2001, 1551 posts, 
From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3083 posts, 
From Norway, joined Jun 2004, 1963 posts, 
From Spain, joined May 2006, 1486 posts, 
From Vatican City, joined Aug 2006, 1480 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Printer friendly format 
