Horizon Retiring the Jets in Favor of the Q400
 

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2008/0...ts.html?csp=34

Looks like we should all start training in the Q400. It's going to be different for sure in the next few years to come.

Being near the bottom of the seniority list, my only hope is that a lot of the jet guys would rather quit and go somewhere else than go drive a turboprop. I would say that things aren't looking all that good for me. I just hope attrition continues and the number of retirements go up.:(:(

So are they replacing the RJ, or are they getting rid of them all together? (Hiring or furloughing)

From a business standpoint it sounds smart, but I feel bad for all the RJ drivers there...

Any idea what's going to happen to the longer routes the -700 is used on like FAT-SEA or SBA-SEA? Are they going to be Q400 routes? Is mainline going to take over? They both seem like really long routes for the Q400.

i was thinking the same thing... interesting.

They want to get rid of all the 700s and 200s and be an all 400 fleet within 24 months. They will take their firm orders for the 400s, but probably only 1-2 of their options, if that. This will make Horizon a 48-50 all Q400 fleet, loss of about 15-17 planes. There was more talk about pulling out of smaller cities than larger ones, and while the 400 could do the longer routes, I have no idea if they really will or not, but I really hope they do.

According to Bombardier the range with 70 people is 1600NM. I know we currently have runs that are 500-600NM so another 100NM or so shouldn't hurt.

Don't worry Shaun, I called Pat. You, Adam, Danny, TJ and I can have our instructing job back but this time we have to pay him to have the opertunity to fly for him.

Dude, this sucks. Hopefully some options will be used.

well I'm glad they spent the money to have the rj's painted in the sports colors.....

The range of the Q wont be an issue. It is the distance where it becomes more expensive to fly the Q that a jet, believe it is around 600 miles where it starts to tilt back into favor with the jet.

Also I do not know why a jet guy would have a problem hopping into the Q. At Colgan with our Q's I am willing to bet it is an easier transition for a jet guy to fly the Q tha one of our Saab guys to fly it. The Q is very close to a jet with its technology, you have two more levers in the middle and it does not go quite as fast.