IATA DH4ICAO DH8D

De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Dash 8Q

De Havilland Canada

TravelerPulse profile

High-capacity regional turboprop with advanced noise reduction.

First flight

1998

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

70–90 passengers

Range

2,040 km

Engines

Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A turboprops

Status

In production

The De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400, commonly known as the Q400, is the largest and most advanced variant of the Dash 8 family. Stretched to accommodate up to 90 passengers, it features Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A engines paired with an active noise and vibration suppression (NVS) system that significantly reduces cabin noise, earning it the 'Q' (Quiet) designation. The aircraft was developed by Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired the Dash 8 program from De Havilland Canada in 1992. The Q400 entered service in 2000 and became popular with regional carriers seeking turboprop economics on routes where jet service would be uneconomical. It cruises at speeds closer to regional jets than traditional turboprops. Bombardier sold the Q Series program to Longview Aviation Capital (Viking Air's parent) in 2019, and the type is now marketed under the De Havilland Canada brand. The aircraft remains in production and in widespread service globally.

Notable operators

Major operators include SAS, Flybe, Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air), Porter Airlines, Wideroe, and Japan Air Commuter, among others.

Notable facts

›Active noise and vibration suppression (NVS) system gives it the 'Q' (Quiet) designation.
›Cruises at approximately 667 km/h, significantly faster than most turboprops.
›First flight occurred on January 31, 1998; entered revenue service in 2000.
›Bombardier sold the Q Series program to Longview Aviation Capital in 2019, reviving the De Havilland Canada brand.
›A 2007 landing gear collapse incident involving Scandinavian Airlines led to temporary fleet groundings and design reviews.