Q400

Commonwealth · Post by **Commonwealth** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:30 pm

I heard a Dash-8 400 climbing out of YZF today, cleared to FL260. Does anyone know what the service celing on this aircraft is?

Inverted2 · Post by **Inverted2** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:33 pm

I heard FL270 because it can descend so quick with those big 6 bladed props.

bandit1 · Post by **bandit1** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:34 pm

a heard it's 25,000ft with "optionally 27,000ft" whatever that means.

superiorwhore · Post by **superiorwhore** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:40 pm

Probably 31K as most turbo props are up there somewhere

Rockie · Post by **Rockie** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:46 pm

I don't know what the certified ceiling is, but the planes don't have oxygen masks in the back so when passengers are on board they are limited to 25,000 ft.

bandit1 · Post by **bandit1** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:47 pm

check the cockpit out. it's got more screens and shit than alot of old jets.

2milefinal · Post by **2milefinal** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:53 pm

http://www.q400.com/q400/en/specificati ... erformance

Performance

Range: NM SM KM
Maximum range
(70 pax @ 200 lb) MCR, ISA, SL 1,362 1,567 2,522

Speeds:
Maximum cruise speed 360 kts 414 mph 667 km/h

Airfield Performance:
FAR takeoff field length
(SL, ISA, MTOW, HGW) 4,600 ft 1,402 m
FAR landing field length
(SL, ISA, MLW, HGW) 4,221 ft 1,287 m
Takeoff field length for 500nm sector
(ISA, 70 Pax, IGW) 3,720 ft 1,134 m
Landing field length for 500nm sector
(ISA, 70 Pax, IGW) 3,380 ft 1,030 m

Ceiling:
Maximum operating altitude 25,000 ft 7,620 m

FAR 36
Noise Level: EPNdB
Takeoff 78.3
Sideline 84.0
Approach 94.3

Maintenance Program
Daily checks None
Line checks Every 50 flight hours
"A" checks Every 400 flight hours
"C" checks Every 4,000 flight hours
Structural inspection Every 40,000 flights hours
Equalized Maintenance Program available.

Structural Integrity
Crack Free Life 40,000 flights / 32,670 flt. hrs. *
Design Life 80,000

longjon · Post by **longjon** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:23 pm

Supiorwhore give us regular CDN tax guys a break weve saw you and your paid bum boys enough OK

pontius · Post by **pontius** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:17 am

As with all the Dash 8 variants, the max. altitude is restricted by the
maximum cabin differential pressure i.e the strength of the pressure hull.
For example, max. cabin diff. is typically 5.95 psi with a max. cabin altitude of 8000 feet. in the Dash 8 100 series.
I could be wrong, I usually am.

airway · Post by **airway** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:12 am

All DH-8 aircraft are certified to a max altitude of 25,000'. On the 100/300, your cabin alt will be 8000' at max differential. I think the 25,000' max is because of no drop down masks in the back.

The guys going to 26,000' were probably doing it just to say they did, but they are risking a violation. What if they did have a problem and sombody got hurt?

TAT · Post by **TAT** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:39 am

The Q400 you saw out of YZF was a ferry flight for delivery. Probably operating under a specific ferry permit that allows them to go higher because there are no pax. I would guess to extend their range a bit more for the crossing to Asia.

Valhalla · Post by **Valhalla** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:39 am

There is an option for 27,000 ceiling in the Q400

Commonwealth · Post by **Commonwealth** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:28 am

OK everyone, thanks for the feedback.

rd1331 · Post by **rd1331** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:40 pm

25,000ft is due to no drop down masks in the back for the passengers.

You can go higher if the service ceiling is higher than 25,000 and have no passengers onboard.

I don't know about the 27,000 maybe the Q400 has an op spec to allow it.

Example. Saab 340's can only go to 25 with pax but 30 without, and no you aren't risking a violation. Only if you do it with pax.

Viking · Post by **Viking** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:37 pm

SAS Scandinavian's Q400's are limited to FL270, they have drop down masks from what I've heard.