My queston is why when you take postion and hold are the spoilers up until just after take off power is applied?
It's been almost five years since I flew the Dash 8 and my memory is a bit rusty. Maybe some current pilots can back me up on this...
The older Dash 8's had a "Flight/Ground" switch installed to control the spoiler function. I believe the PSEU would sense WOW and Power Lever position (around 19% torque I think) to determine if the spoilers would be up or down...for example:
Switch in FLIGHT:
On the ground (WOW) with the Power Levers at idle, the spoilers would be UP...this could occur either clearing the runway after landing OR taxiing onto the runway to hold in position. As soon as the power levers are advanced for T/O (and above the Microswitch at approx. 19% TQ) the PSEU sends a signal to retract the spoilers.
Switch in GROUND:
During all ground ops. the switch is placed in GROUND which basically (if I remember) takes the Power Lever Switch and the WOW out of the equation and stows the boards.
The Q200's didn't have the switch but I'm told the Q400 does.
Hope that helps!
Treetop