They are building a ATR 42/72-600 series with new big screen avionics and a better cabin, I think everything else is close to the -500 with, again, the most important thing to making a prop cooler than a jet... 6-8 blades. Works everytime.

 

I agree. The 50 seaters are next to worthless.

 

Comair by the end of 2009 will have shed over 62+ 50 seaters and that began mid 2008. Officially we'll be down to a fleet of 100 or less aircraft by end of 2009.

 

Heyas,

When you guys get back to Bandits and Nav-a-joes, then I'll be happy.

Nu

 

I'll second that with having them instruct in the Seminole until the majors call.

 

That Wings Air is flying Navajos from ATL-Athens and ATL-Macon. I think they fly 10 times a day and the FO's pay $20/hr to be there. I'd go to confirm but I don't care about that owner.

As to the planes, according to my trusty book here, on a 400sm trip like ATL-MCO or ATL-RDU, or sort of JFK-RDU and JFK-CLE. The Q400 is 12 minutes slower but burns over 1,000 lbs less fuel. Over a 14 hour day you can do 9 trips on the CRJ and 8 on the 400. That is based on both airplanes using an ideal climb, cruise and descent profile. I'm sure it changes tremendously if one can take off VFR out of LGA/JFK and one waits in line and is held down from its optimum.

Q400: 1:26, 2800lbs burned
CRJ700: 1:15 and 3200lbs
ATR72-500: 1:38 and 1800lbs
...
50 Seaters (i.e. 20 less seats) on the same route:
CRJ-200 2,400lbs and ERJ145 2,600 lbs

 

The Q400 is also quite a bit bigger than the RJ - including the CRJ-700. Its a bigger diameter tube and can be configured to more than 70 seats; QX has theirs configured to 76. Though, when configured to 70, it makes for some nice leg room in each row. So, 9 legs on a 50 seat RJ is 450 seats moved, 8 legs on a Q400 configured to 70 is 560 seats moved. 110 more seats with a lot less fuel used. The Q400 is also faster and bigger than the ATR and can actually handle the ice. QX has their Q400's Cat III certified as well (not that any DCI carrier would want to pay the expense of installing a certifing that HGS system).

On paper, the Q400 kickes butt over just about any other type of equipment on the shorter segments. Too bad that reliability has been such an issue.

 

It is a pretty sweet ride, I'm starting to drift back to it after thinking about the ATR... sorry Bar. He had me at legroom.

I just think it'd be better to have a lot more Q400s than any other DCI aircraft. At Continental isn't it unlimited in their scope on size as long as its a prop? I can't remember the number but I thought unlimited on turboprop seating and quantity and unlimited amout of 59 or less seat jets but no 60+ seat jets.

 

CAL scope prohibits JETS larger then 50 seats to be flown by anyone but mainline pilots.