Dehavilland Canada 8/Dhc8-400

Twin Turboprop· 56 globally registered

The Bombardier Q400, originally the de Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 before Bombardier acquired the program in 1992, is the largest and fastest turboprop airliner in widespread service. Introduced in 2000, it stretched the successful Dash 8 family to seat 68-90 passengers and pushed turboprop cruise speeds to 360 knots (within 20 knots of many regional jets) while burning 30-40% less fuel on typical 300-500 nautical mile routes. The Q400's active noise and vibration suppression system, which gave the aircraft its "Q" (Quiet) designation, uses tuned absorbers and engine synchrophasing to deliver a cabin environment quieter than earlier turboprops, helping overcome passenger resistance to propeller aircraft. With a service ceiling of 25,000 feet and the ability to operate from runways as short as 4,000 feet, the type carved out a niche on thin regional routes where jets were uneconomical but speed mattered: Alaska's island-hopping networks, Scandinavian fjord communities, and Canadian transcontinental feeders all became Q400 strongholds. The aircraft's high wing loading and powerful Pratt & Whitney PW150A engines (5,071 shaft horsepower each) give it excellent short-field performance and the ability to maintain schedule reliability in challenging weather, though the type gained notoriety for a series of landing gear collapses between 2007-2009 that were traced to maintenance and operational factors rather than design flaws. Production ended in 2021 after 585 aircraft were built, with De Havilland Canada (which reacquired the program from Bombardier in 2019) focusing on parts support and potential restart studies. SkyMeter has tracked 5,613 flights across 279 airframes and 18 operators over routes, with Westjet Encore Ltd. the largest observed operator.