I just found this on a search of Q400 and fly by wire. It references the C Series aircraft that carry 100+ passengers. Is it possible they were able to retrofit the Q Series as well? The article is from ‘08 and mentions a 10 year contract.
Parker Aerospace to Develop Generic Fly-By-Wire System for All New Bombardier Widebody Aircraft Programs
July 17, 2008 Farnborough
Aerospace, Press Release
Bombardier Aerospace and Parker Aerospace announced today that Parker has been selected as the exclusive supplier for a period of ten years of fly-by-wire flight control systems for all new Bombardier widebody aircraft programs requiring this technology.
Parker’s Control Systems Division will develop a complete, state of the art generic fly-by-wire system from stick to surface, that will then be customized and manufactured by the division for each aircraft program, starting with the CSeries.
Parker estimates that this has the potential to generate revenues of $3.5 billion US over the life of the programs.
“This approach to the design, development and manufacture of a system that can be applied to a number of aircraft programs will provide us with increased reliability, reduced development cycle, and an overall improved value proposition,” said François Caza, Vice President and Chief Engineer, Bombardier Aerospace. “Through this arrangement we will be able to simplify and improve our service and support structure.”
“We are extremely proud to be a part of this exciting opportunity, and look forward to providing Bombardier, a long-time Parker customer, with enhanced fly-by-wire flight control systems,” said Parker Aerospace Control Systems Division Vice President and General Manager, Carl Moffitt.
Fly-by-wire system
Fly-by-wire replaces the conventional hydro-mechanical flight control system that uses a series of pulleys and/or rods that directly control flight surfaces and provides easier installation and increased functionality. With fly-by-wire, pilot inputs are interpreted by sophisticated on-board computers to ensure that the signals being sent to the control surfaces optimize the aircraft’s performance.
CSeries family of aircraft
The five-abreast CSeries aircraft – launched on July 13, 2008 – are specifically designed to meet the growing needs of the 100- to 149-seat commercial aircraft market category, estimated by Bombardier Aerospace at 6,300 aircraft representing more than $250 billion US revenue over the next 20 years. Bombardier expects to be able to capture up to half of this market.
About Parker Hannifin Corporation
Parker Aerospace is an operating segment of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Parker Aerospace designs, manufactures, and services hydraulic, fuel, and pneumatic components, systems, and related electronic controls for aerospace and other high-technology markets. Based in Irvine, California, its product lines include flight control actuation systems and components, thrust-reverser actuation systems, electrohydraulic servovalves, utility hydraulic systems and components, DC motor pumps, fuel pumps, lubrication and scavenge pumps, fuel measurement and management systems, cockpit instrumentation, flight inspection systems, pneumatic subsystems and components, fluid metering delivery and atomization devices, wheels and brakes, and fluid conveyance products such as hoses, tubes, disconnects, and fittings.
With annual sales exceeding $10 billion, Parker Hannifin is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets. The company employs more than 57,000 people in 43 countries around the world. Parker has increased its annual dividends paid to shareholders for 51 consecutive years, among the top five longest-running dividend-increase records in the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.parker.com, or its investor information site at www.phstock.com.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2008, were $17.5 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
Bombardier and CSeries are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Per Bombardier the Q400 entered service in 1998. Alaska Airlines just announced that they weren't going to replace the crashed bird since they were already in the process of replacing their entire fleet of Q400's with Embrariers (sp?).
My take on those two statements in combination: That Q400 that went down along with the rest of Alaska's fleet are most likely 15 or more years old and thus could not have been originally produced with Parker's FBW system.
As far as a retrofit FBW system in an elderly Q400..... Well, it could be done.
If you didn't mind the CFO and the entire Accounting Department quitting or committing mass seppuku in the Boardroom when they saw the bids.