Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliner. Norwegian regional carrier Widerøe’s Flyveselskap A/S accepted the aircraft – the first of six on firm order – at the Q400 aircraft delivery centre at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

One of the world’s most technologically advanced turboprops, the Q400 NextGen airliner offers an enhanced overall cabin environment featuring LED lighting, new ceiling panels, dished window sidewalls and larger overhead luggage bins.

A de Havilland/Bombardier customer since 1957, Widerøe currently operates 30 de Havilland/Bombardier 39-seat Dash 8-100, 50-seat Q300 and 78-seat Q400 aircraft with 330 flights a day to 36 domestic and seven international destinations.

“This occasion is one of the shining moments of the year-long events marking the 75^th anniversary of the founding of our airline,” said Lars Kobberstad, President and Chief Executive Officer of  Widerøe. “Bombardier and de Havilland have played a major role in our growth and success by having the right aircraft available at the right time. Without these aircraft, it is doubtful if we could have begun – and grown – the wide network of routes to small, otherwise inaccessible, communities along the coast of Norway.

“The Q400 NextGen aircraft with its new interior and additional passenger amenities will allow us to improve upon the customer experience for which Widerøe is well known,” said Mr. Kobberstad.

Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft said, “Bombardier launched a new era of turboprop aircraft travel in 1996 when we introduced the Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system and renamed our aircraft the Q-Series. The Q400 NextGen aircraft is another step in the continuing evolution of this extraordinary aircraft. We find it very fitting that the first Q400 NextGen aircraft is going to such a long-time and valued customer such as Widerøe.”

The optimized large, high-speed turboprop solution for short-haul services, the Q400 NextGen aircraft provides a perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with a reduced environmental footprint. And its jet-like cruise speed of 360 knots (667 km/h) allows for airline schedule optimization.

Operating costs of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, already among the lowest of any regional aircraft will be made even lower by increasing scheduled maintenance intervals and further optimizing maintenance tasks. The Q400 and Q400 NextGen airliners’ Aircraft Operating Manuals (AOM) have been updated to reflect that the fuel burn under certain operating conditions is lower than predicted.

Like Bombardier’s other regional airline products, the Q400 NextGen aircraft external noise is well below the maximum permitted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 16, Ch. 4 and U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 36 Stage 4.

Firm orders for Bombardier Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft stand at 347, with 233 delivered as of January 31, 2009. Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are in service with, or have been ordered by, 30 operators around the world.

Scource: Bombardier