Aircraft

Bombardier's new Dash 8 Q100 life-extension programme has received a warm reception from two of the largest operators of the type in the world.

Air Canada Jazz and US Airways subsidiary Piedmont Airlines say that the programme is under consideration by management.

"We are certainly evaluating the proposal, but no decision has been made yet," says Jazz.

US Airways says: "We are aware of the life-extension programme. [It is] too early to say exactly how Piedmont would fit into the programme, but it's certainly something to work with if it's right."

A growing number of Q100s in operation today are coming close to crossing the current 80,000-cycle threshold. Bombardier's life-extension programme would increase the economic life of these aircraft by 50%, or to 120,000 cycles.

Jazz operates 36 Q100s, while Piedmont operates 40.

"Although we don't publicly disclose specific information regarding aircraft cycles, I will say that the Dash 8 Q100 aircraft in our fleet are not nearing their maximum life cycle in the near term," says the airline.

The programme may be making a particularly timely entrance, however. Piedmont in recent years contemplated replacing its Q100s with newer turboprops, but shelved those plans due to the current economic recession.

"There has been talk in recent years of a replacement fleet type at Piedmont, but that effort has been put on hold. When the economy recovers, the fleet-replacement effort will resume," says US Airways.

Bombardier says a single Q100 in the world fleet is expected to reach the 80,000-cycle threshold in 2010. From 2011 to 2019, however, the Canadian airframer expects 128 more will reach that point for a fleet total of 129.

Bombardier's historic deliveries for the Q100 total 299 aircraft.