Airline pulls turboprops from fleet

Anchorage Daily News ^ | October 28, 2007 at 01:18 PM | MALIN RISING

[skeptoid]

Scandinavian Airlines said Sunday it will pull Bombardier Q400 turboprops from its fleet after a series of crash landings caused by landing gear malfunctions.

The decision came a day after an SAS turboprop with 44 people on board crash-landed in Denmark when part of its landing gear collapsed, with one wing scraping the ground in a shower of sparks. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely.

The same type of plane, also known as Dash 8, crash-landed twice last month and SAS temporarily grounded its fleet of turboprops. No one was seriously injured.

"Confidence in the Q400 has diminished considerably and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying in this type of aircraft," SAS chief executive Mats Jansson said in a statement.

[skeptoid]

POLFOTO -- AP Photo Gert Jensen
A Scandinavian Airlines turboprop carrying 44 people en route from Bergen to Copenhagen is seen after it was forced to make a safety landing at Copenhagen Airport, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. The landing gear failed to function and the plane landed on only one wheel and then spun off the runway. No one was seriously injured in the accident, the third crash landing involving the airline's Bombardier-made Q400 turboprops in less than two months.

SNIP ..... Bombardier recommended airlines to continue flying the aircraft, saying there appeared to be no link between the Saturday's crash-landing and previous incidents involving SAS turboprops.

SAS has said it would demand $78.25 million in compensation from Bombardier for costs and lost income for accidents involving the turboprops. It wasn't immediately clear if SAS would make additional claims after Sunday's decision.

[CARTOUCHE]

Been following this story at airliners.net (civil aviation forum). Concerning to all airlines that operate this bird. Unfortunate as this is the most advanced turboprop with noise cancelling features that make prop flight so objectionable on other older turboprop aircraft.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

The headline implies that the turboprops themselves were faulty, rather than the landing gear.

[Clemenza]

The Dash 8s have had similar problems with the landing gear. Guess what aircraft I am flying in next week to DC.

[toothfairy86]

The only turboprops I’ve flown in were made by Saab.

[steve86]

Horizon/Alaska Airlines has a fair number of these also, I believe.

[nj_pilot]

I believe it’s the same plane as a Dash8 - just rebranded as bombardier. -njp

[Clemenza]

I believe it’s the same plane as a Dash8 - just rebranded as bombardier. -njp

Yes, I know. It was rebranded a few years after Boeing sold Dehavilland Canada to Bombardier. I made my comment, btw, before reading the article, something one should never do. ;-)

[skeptoid]

33 of them, I've read. And Horizon loves them.
But if you're an XL sized passenger, try for the bench seat at the rear bulkhead.

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

Ok then... Just before touchdown unbuckle and jump up in the air. Sure, you’ll be arrested by TSA but you may prevent the landing gear from collapsing. ;-)

[JoeSixPack1]

...and our customers are becoming increasingly doubtful about flying landing in this type of aircraft,"

Re-engineer the trunions and stop crying.

[Clemenza]

They don’t call it “US Scareways” for nothing!

[Malsua]

prop flight so objectionable

Odd, I enjoy noisy ole turbo props. I don't have to listen to the various noises emitted by others from 0 to 90 who grunt, fart, belch, squeal, gurgle, chuckle, gasp, snore or talk ad naseum.

[BurbankKarl]

seat 19 baby!

or something like that.

hahaaha

[nj_pilot]

Did you ever have the pleasure of making a trip on a Shorts? My ears are still ringing, and that was probably 20+ years ago!

[nj_pilot]

Yes, I know. It was rebranded a few years after Boeing sold Dehavilland Canada to Bombardier. I made my comment, btw, before reading the article, something one should never do. ;-)

ditto - should read fully before responding myself. I do hope they get this sorted out - i've always liked the turboprops for short legs - seems more like "roots" aviation to me.

[steve86]

Horizon may have loved them (past tense), but the recent downtime cost the company big money and the love affair may be fading.

[Don W]

Ah yes, the Shortts: It’d be a nice looking plane, if they’d take it out of the crate...

[Malsua]

Did you ever have the pleasure of making a trip on a Shorts?

Well, I don't even know what that means. I've only ever flown on prop jobs that have about 25-35 passengers...that will perhaps give you some idea of the airplane.

My one brother told me that he traveled to the Middle East in the nets of a C130. He told me that if he hadn't drank a 12pk the night prior, he wouldn't have been able to sleep off one of the worst trips in his life :).

[Don W]

Perhaps this or this might enlighten you.

See also THIS