Dash-8 Drivers...
 

Driving by LGA today and saw a Dash on final for 31 (Expressway Visual)...Looked to see who was behind him when I noticed another Dash that was clean, still moving pretty well and appearing much higher than usual just about to turn inbound to final. It was impressive to see the gear come down and all that altitude lost in the short distance remaining to the runway - all while making it seem like a smooth transition. Don't know if there are any other Dash operators at LGA besides Piedmont, but I just wanted to let you guys know that your skills were being admired from below. Nice to actually see in action what I hear from former and current Dash drivers on APC.

I'm not a Dash 8 driver but I have a LOT of time on the "Dash 6". Dehavilland builds the absolute BEST TURBOPROP IN THE AIR in my opinion. The admiration for these excellent workhorses is well deserved. I wish USAir management would get off their arse and order the Q400's for the Piedmont guys. They have my highest respect for their fine work.

Wish I could have done that in the CRJ into DEN today...!

Been seeing a good number of those Q4's around lately and must say I'm a bit Jealous! That is not to say I'd trade equipment, but rather those Prop guys deserve even more respect, IMHO ;-)

Yeah, I really miss the Dash. We always had to stifle a laugh when ATC asked, "Are you going to be able to get down?" If you could see it, you could hit it.

any of the big turbo props could do that. the atr was great for coming in fast and stopping on a dime. you could be doing vmo on downwind abeam the departure end of the runway at 2000 feet agl and still hit the thousand foot markers with no effort.

True enough. I've flown with several ex-ATR guys, and we all have similar stories. IMO, the Barbie jet just isn't as fun.

Jetstreams, baby, that's where it's at. :D

I occasionally liked getting a chuckle from ATC whan they would ask if we could maintain 200 to the marker and I would respond with "Outer or Middle?".

Got about five hundred hours of Dash time too, and I gotta admit I would fly that airplane through the deepest, darkest depths of blackest hell.

The Dash-8 turns into an elevator at Vref with the gear and flaps out. I've made normal sized patterns, landing well within the touchdown zone, when 4,000 AGL on downwind abeam the touchdown point.:D

I have a burning question for you Dash drivers...I used to work for Sheltair at LGA and saw many a PDT Dash 8 come and go. My queston is why when you take postion and hold are the spoilers up until just after take off power is applied? Ive noticed this quite a few times.

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