Q400

Called initially DHC-8-400 under the denomination De Havilland Canada (DHC), this plane was famous Q400 after the acquisition of Havilland Canada by Bombardier

Dash 8-Q400 is the largest standard appliance Dash 8 (it measures 10.1 meters in length moreover than Dash 8-Q100). It has 2 turbopropellers PW150A with 6 blades contrary to the other engines of Dash 8 which have 4 of them. Called Q400, Q being for " quiet" (silencer), its 6 blades reduce the sound level. It has also a system reducing the vibrations and the sound. It consumes less fuel and emits less polluting gas. It is also one of the fastest turbopropellers.

Dash 8 resembles particularly ATR 42 and 72 and the Fokker F50

Dash 8-Q400 has a version bomber of water equipping the French Civil security (cf the photograph in insert). This plane is called Q400 MR. for multi-roles. Indeed, in addition to its capacity of carrying of 10 tons water or of delaying on mission of fight against forest fires, it makes it possible to transport up to 64 passengers or 9 tons of freight. The system of dropping is composed of a compartment, reserve of 10.000 liters plated under the fuselage, of a calculator ordering two doors allowing a dropping known as " constant flow" in order to ensure a covering on the quantitative and qualitative ground chosen by the crew.

NVS

The NVS (" Noise and Suppression" Vibration; or suppression of the noise and the vibrations) can be activated starting from the cockpit. This system proved very effective and advantageous for the passengers because it increases the comfort of the cabin largely.

The NVS is made up small microphones laid out along the fuselage of the apparatus which continuously send the data of sound and vibrations to a trip computer. When the vibration created by the propellers which knock rythmiquement on the fuselage is too intense, the trip computer active of the attenuators of trepidations to granted vibrations (ATVA), laid out them also along the fuselage. These attenuators produce vibrations in phases opposed to those of the propellers and thus cancel the effect of those.

In addition to attenuating the vibrations, the ATVA attenuate also the noise.

The NVS is not only installed on Q400, but also on Q100, Q200 and Q300.

Problems with the principal train of aterrissage

In January 2000, the company Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was the first company has to exploit Dash 8 Q400 commercially.

An apparatus with Aalborg on September 9th, 2007, and another, diverted on Vilnius on September 12th, 2007 aterrissages of urgencies following the failure of the principal train of aterrissage carry out.

The company Scandinavian Airlines has this same company nailed on the ground temporarily its fleet of Dash 8 Q400.Elle proceeded to a complete inspection of the trains of aterrissages, and to rempacement systematic of a part which seemed affected by the Corrosion. The apparatuses were given in service gradually starting from October 3rd, 2007. She also affirmed to be under discussion with the contructor Bombardier for financial equalizations for the interruption of the commercial exploitation of lappareil.

October 27th, 2007, Dash 8 Q400 of the company Scandinavian Airlines is constrained, following disfonctionnement principal train of aterrissage, to urgently carry out a aterrissage in Copenhagen which does not make any casualty.

The following day, the company Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced the stop of the exploitation of its fleet of Dash 8 Q400, contituée of 27 planes on the whole and contributing according to it to approximately 5% of the passenger traffic of the company. She affirmed that Dash 8 Q400 had caused repeated problems " bound to the qualité" , and that these incidents caused delays on the lines or this apparatus was exploited.

The principal train of aterrissage of Dash 8 Q400 is manufactured by the American company Goodrich, and its installation is carried out by Bombardier

Internal bond

of Havilland DHC-8 (Dash 8)

External bond

Site of the manufacturer Bomber dedicated to Q400

References

Official statement of SAS (in English)

http://www.q400.com

See too

ATR
Fokker F50
Fokker F27
Dornier 328

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