Turboprops: Making a Comeback?
 

Turboprops: Making a Comeback?

Turboprops: Making a Comeback? | Airchive

Thoughts?

I personally this this article is 100% flat out wrong.

Stupid article considering United is dumping all its Q400s, not to mention this retarded statement:

Yeah, it's a flawed article, but I think there's a little truth to the core premise. Q400's will fill many niche markets as 50-seat RJ's get parked, especially EAS routes. There might be a handful of 1900's and such also operating. Turboprops are far better tailored to short hops, and with fuel of paramount concern relative to the 1990's, I think they'll make a minor comeback.

Large turboprops like the Q300/400 and ATR *should* be making a comeback, as the hub/spoke system (especially east of Kansas City) makes *perfect* sense for may destinations from a stage length and cost standpoint.

I would guess one reason they have not, and its a big reason, is there are hundreds of 50 seat RJs out there that are largely paid for or have fairly low lease payments compared to the cost of capital to acquire a fleet of new large turboprops.

This is true! Plus the fact that the Q400 damn sure isn't cheap.

"An airline flying planes with propellers? Like the ones in Word War 2?"

The atr and saabs, and soon dash2s are too expensive due to heavy checks. By 2017 if not sooner pdt 200s will join the eagle atr and clgan saabs in the scrap yard. Source, union work and that's flat out managements view.

Add in low gas prices, pax hate them, pilot pay shortage, and endless supply of 50 seat jets paid off. The q400 doesn't work in the USA, you won't see it besides horizon where it actually works.

Turboprops: Making a Comeback?
 

According to wiki a new q400 is only 500,000 less than a new ERJ175.....wow


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PDT has Dash 8-100s and 300s. Almost all of the old Henson 100s (some of the first Dash-8s produced) will be parked in the next couple of years. The old Allegheny 100s and the 300s may fly another few years. I think AA will be turbopropless by 2020.

Q400s are just too expensive. If they could build a Q300 with q400 speed at a much lower price point you might see a major airline bite, but then you have the regional airline pilot shortage to contend with.

Why should a large turboprop be "cheap", relative to a jet of the same size/capacity?