Bombardier Q400 NextGen Turboprop Airliner on Demonstration Tour of The Bahamas
- Advanced, fuel-efficient airliner ideally suited to the region
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft will today showcase its Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner in Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. The fuel-efficient, lower-emission aircraft, which was manufactured in Toronto, Ontario and configured with 76 seats, will be flown on demonstration tours for representatives of the government of The Bahamas, Bahamasair (the national airline), the media and other stakeholders.
“The Bahamas demonstration tour provides an opportunity to showcase one of the world’s most technologically-advanced turboprops,” said Kevin Smith, Vice President, Sales, Americas, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 NextGen aircraft’s operational flexibility, low-cost operation, reduced environmental impact and passenger comfort are ideally suited to the needs of the people of The Bahamas and the neighbouring region.”
Launched in March 2008, the Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner is the most recent development in the evolution of the Q400 aircraft and the advanced successor to Bombardier’s Dash 8/Q-Series family of aircraft. The Q400 NextGen aircraft features an enhanced cabin environment with the introduction of LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins. These features, combined with the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system, provide an excellent cabin experience for passengers.
While the operating costs of the Q400 airliner were already among the lowest of any regional aircraft, the operating costs for both the Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners have been made even lower by increasing intervals between scheduled maintenance and further optimizing maintenance tasks, therefore reducing labour hours. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners’ Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) has been updated to reflect that the fuel burn under certain operating conditions is lower than predicted.
External noise on the Q400 NextGen aircraft, as on Bombardier's other regional aircraft products, is well below the maximum permitted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 16 Ch. 4, and U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 36 Stage 4. Q400 NextGen aircraft also produce low carbon dioxide and other emissions.
Bombardier had booked firm orders for 363 Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft and had delivered 288 of the aircraft as of January 31, 2010. Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners are now in service with some 30 airlines and other operators in Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Region, Europe and the Middle East. The worldwide fleet has logged more than 2.5 million hours and over 2.8 million take-off and landing cycles. In addition to their role as regional airliners, Q400 aircraft are also being used in corporate transport and fire-fighting, and are suitable for an array of missionized operations.
Source: BOMBARDIER
