How is the Dash-8 in snow?
Feb 12, 2007, 10:26 am
#16
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Jim:
Likewise I was also speaking of Piedmont Dash8 crews as those are the only ones I've been around.
Likewise I was also speaking of Piedmont Dash8 crews as those are the only ones I've been around.
Feb 12, 2007, 12:32 pm
#17
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Not to get off topic too much, but one weather medium has "winter storm watch" up, yet has 40% chance of snow showers. Another has no watch, but has heavy snow.
Back on topic, I used to do phl-abe every week--in a Dash 8--, and it was the winds, not the snow that caused problems!
Back on topic, I used to do phl-abe every week--in a Dash 8--, and it was the winds, not the snow that caused problems!
cheers
howie
Feb 14, 2007, 2:11 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: PHL
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Update
As you may have guessed, the flight (5:25 PM) from ISP-PHL yesterday was cancelled. I fortunately found out at 1:30 yesterday (no thanks to US or my company's travel desk) and was able to get creative about getting home. I returned the rental car at JFK, took the subway to Manhattan, and then took Amtrak home.
Looking at today's ops, I think I made a good choice. All flights from ISP-PHL were cancelled today.
Looking at today's ops, I think I made a good choice. All flights from ISP-PHL were cancelled today.
Feb 15, 2007, 6:31 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Furloughed
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I guess it's a bit late to answer your main question, but the Dash 8 seems to love flying in winter weather. It hates summer / hot.
The airplane is built with a thick wing, and can handle most icing conditions you would expect to counter in the northern parts of the world.
As long as all the de-ice / anti-ice equipment is working, no worries. The only thing you may notice as a passenger is the props shedding ice, which hits the side of the fuselage making a pretty loud THUMP. Perfectly fine. The props may also get a bit out of balance between de-ice boot cycles on the blades.
I trust the airplane more than any regional jet in icing conditions.
You also have more immediate and effective directional control on the ground with the Dash than you would with a pure jet. Less of a chance of the aircraft sliding off an icy runway since differential power can be applied more accurately and sooner than in a jet.
As far as our crews, we look like a lot of regionals out there when it comes to First Officers. I've been on the airplane about three years, and I'm fairly senior in the right seat. Many have been there a year or less as our attrition has skyrocketed due to no growth and few upgrades.
Most captains have been on the airplane at least ten years, and we have several who flew the -7, Shorts, and Beech 99. They've been on the property almost twenty years. Off the top of my head, I think our most senior pilot was hired in '73 or '78 by one of the regionals that merged and became Allegheny, later merged into Piedmont.
The airplane is built with a thick wing, and can handle most icing conditions you would expect to counter in the northern parts of the world.
As long as all the de-ice / anti-ice equipment is working, no worries. The only thing you may notice as a passenger is the props shedding ice, which hits the side of the fuselage making a pretty loud THUMP. Perfectly fine. The props may also get a bit out of balance between de-ice boot cycles on the blades.
I trust the airplane more than any regional jet in icing conditions.
You also have more immediate and effective directional control on the ground with the Dash than you would with a pure jet. Less of a chance of the aircraft sliding off an icy runway since differential power can be applied more accurately and sooner than in a jet.
As far as our crews, we look like a lot of regionals out there when it comes to First Officers. I've been on the airplane about three years, and I'm fairly senior in the right seat. Many have been there a year or less as our attrition has skyrocketed due to no growth and few upgrades.
Most captains have been on the airplane at least ten years, and we have several who flew the -7, Shorts, and Beech 99. They've been on the property almost twenty years. Off the top of my head, I think our most senior pilot was hired in '73 or '78 by one of the regionals that merged and became Allegheny, later merged into Piedmont.
Feb 15, 2007, 8:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 522
I can't speak for Dash-8s in the snow, but I have found them to be more reliable in the summer during thunderstorms.
If there's a gap, they can load them up more quickly and send them on the shorter runways in CLT and PHL that don't have a pile of mainline flights already trying to get off in the 'gap' between cells.
If there's a gap, they can load them up more quickly and send them on the shorter runways in CLT and PHL that don't have a pile of mainline flights already trying to get off in the 'gap' between cells.
Feb 16, 2007, 5:56 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Jim
I agree with you assesment of the crews at most regional carriers. Some pilots I have seen on some RJs don't seem old enough to shave.
But AW seems to be the execption of the RJ carriers, most seem older 40+ YO.
I think the Dash8 is a great plane to fly on short trips, MHT-LGA for example. The plane is comforable (other than noise) and just as fast as an RJ on that route (flight time)
I agree with you assesment of the crews at most regional carriers. Some pilots I have seen on some RJs don't seem old enough to shave.
But AW seems to be the execption of the RJ carriers, most seem older 40+ YO.
I think the Dash8 is a great plane to fly on short trips, MHT-LGA for example. The plane is comforable (other than noise) and just as fast as an RJ on that route (flight time)
Feb 16, 2007, 10:05 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,256
I guess it's a bit late to answer your main question, but the Dash 8 seems to love flying in winter weather. It hates summer / hot.
The airplane is built with a thick wing, and can handle most icing conditions you would expect to counter in the northern parts of the world.
As long as all the de-ice / anti-ice equipment is working, no worries. The only thing you may notice as a passenger is the props shedding ice, which hits the side of the fuselage making a pretty loud THUMP. Perfectly fine. The props may also get a bit out of balance between de-ice boot cycles on the blades.
I trust the airplane more than any regional jet in icing conditions.
You also have more immediate and effective directional control on the ground with the Dash than you would with a pure jet. Less of a chance of the aircraft sliding off an icy runway since differential power can be applied more accurately and sooner than in a jet.
As far as our crews, we look like a lot of regionals out there when it comes to First Officers. I've been on the airplane about three years, and I'm fairly senior in the right seat. Many have been there a year or less as our attrition has skyrocketed due to no growth and few upgrades.
Most captains have been on the airplane at least ten years, and we have several who flew the -7, Shorts, and Beech 99. They've been on the property almost twenty years. Off the top of my head, I think our most senior pilot was hired in '73 or '78 by one of the regionals that merged and became Allegheny, later merged into Piedmont.
The airplane is built with a thick wing, and can handle most icing conditions you would expect to counter in the northern parts of the world.
As long as all the de-ice / anti-ice equipment is working, no worries. The only thing you may notice as a passenger is the props shedding ice, which hits the side of the fuselage making a pretty loud THUMP. Perfectly fine. The props may also get a bit out of balance between de-ice boot cycles on the blades.
I trust the airplane more than any regional jet in icing conditions.
You also have more immediate and effective directional control on the ground with the Dash than you would with a pure jet. Less of a chance of the aircraft sliding off an icy runway since differential power can be applied more accurately and sooner than in a jet.
As far as our crews, we look like a lot of regionals out there when it comes to First Officers. I've been on the airplane about three years, and I'm fairly senior in the right seat. Many have been there a year or less as our attrition has skyrocketed due to no growth and few upgrades.
Most captains have been on the airplane at least ten years, and we have several who flew the -7, Shorts, and Beech 99. They've been on the property almost twenty years. Off the top of my head, I think our most senior pilot was hired in '73 or '78 by one of the regionals that merged and became Allegheny, later merged into Piedmont.
Feb 16, 2007, 10:06 am
#23
Join Date: May 2001
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I guess it's a bit late to answer your main question, but the Dash 8 seems to love flying in winter weather. It hates summer / hot.
Feb 16, 2007, 12:11 pm
#24
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While I have never flown a US Dash-8, I can assure you it's one of the most rugged and reliable planes ever built and was specifically designed for operation in winter conditions. The Dash-8 is very reliable in icy, windy conditions and can land and take off on very short runways (although not STOL rated as was the Dash 7).
Many carriers use the Dash-8 in exceptionally demanding conditions, such as Air St Pierre, who operate between St Pierre and Miquelon (two French islands off the coast of Newfoundland). Also, a number of carriers use the Dash 8 into SBH and its infamous runway 10 approach.
While the Dash 8 is loud and bumpy, I would feel safer in a Dash-8 in the winter than in virtually any other plane.
Many carriers use the Dash-8 in exceptionally demanding conditions, such as Air St Pierre, who operate between St Pierre and Miquelon (two French islands off the coast of Newfoundland). Also, a number of carriers use the Dash 8 into SBH and its infamous runway 10 approach.
While the Dash 8 is loud and bumpy, I would feel safer in a Dash-8 in the winter than in virtually any other plane.
Feb 17, 2007, 6:54 am
#26
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I agree as well as someone who has flown the dh8 into btv many times in less than ideal weather! I dont get why people are so afraid of props?
cheers
howie
cheers
howie
Feb 18, 2007, 9:41 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: St. Croix, USVI
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I imagine you are based in Salisbury? I graduated from SSU in 99 and worked for Perdue for a while. I met my wife there and Mr. Henson (who started what is now the USX version of Piedmont called Henson aviation) gave her a scholarship right before he passed. I still love that town!
Sean
Feb 19, 2007, 8:04 am
#28
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Furloughed
Programs: Lots
Posts: 156
I don't know why you'd want to fly a Dash 8-100 in the Islands, but a -200 does well in the heat. Problem is management decided to get rid of ours and replace them with previously retired -100s.
The issue with cooling them down comes from not being able to run the APU in flight. It was designed to do so, but De Havilland wasn't able to get the certification required for use in flight. If we could run it, the airplane would be nice and cool.
Sorry, I'm not based in SBY. I try to stay away from the place.
The issue with cooling them down comes from not being able to run the APU in flight. It was designed to do so, but De Havilland wasn't able to get the certification required for use in flight. If we could run it, the airplane would be nice and cool.
Sorry, I'm not based in SBY. I try to stay away from the place.
Feb 19, 2007, 9:16 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: St. Croix, USVI
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I think my love of the town stems from it being my college town.
I've always been facinated though by the fact that US still has ties to what was such a small town due to Henson aviation. Any insight on how big the operation is there?
I believe the Caribbean airlines are using the 200 series. LIAT uses them as well.
Sean
I've always been facinated though by the fact that US still has ties to what was such a small town due to Henson aviation. Any insight on how big the operation is there?
I believe the Caribbean airlines are using the 200 series. LIAT uses them as well.
Sean
Feb 20, 2007, 6:42 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
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I believe a lot of the -100's still have HA in their tail-numbers from when they were owned by Henson Aviation. Not sure if it's still around, but N906HA was the oldest in the fleet, being serial #9 of all Dash 8's built. She was delivered sometime in early 1985.
The Old Days: http://us.airliners.net/photos/middle/9/5/8/0712859.jpg
Today: http://us.airliners.net/photos/middle/3/1/5/0093513.jpg
The Old Days: http://us.airliners.net/photos/middle/9/5/8/0712859.jpg
Today: http://us.airliners.net/photos/middle/3/1/5/0093513.jpg