Government Quest for Quieter, More efficient, Aircraft Continues

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has announced the approval of their Dash 8-400 turboprop as the first regional aircraft, and only turboprop, to meet the newer, more stringent ICAO chapter 14 noise emission standards. 

The aircraft is also now certified to stage 5 standards set by the FAA, making it an attractive offering for regional routes that overfly densely populated, noise-sensitive areas. The Dash 8-400 features six-bladed Dowty propellers on Pratt & Whitney PW150A engines, with an Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) system that reduces the effective propeller noise inside the cabin for maximum passenger comfort. With extensive acoustic engineering to mitigate the taxing, tiring effects of sound, turbulence, and repetitive noise, the Dash 8 offers comfort that belies its class. 

Operators wishing to take advantage of the new certification will find some airports inviting, with some offering discounts for Chapter 14 aircraft. De Havilland notes that Gatwick Airport, in Sussex, England, offers operators a discount of 60%-80% compared to operators of Chapters 3 and 4 aircraft. 

“The approvals by the FAA and EASA have confirmed that the Dash 8-400 aircraft’s advanced design positions it well ahead of current regional jets and turboprops in delivering low community noise during take-off and landing. Furthermore, new regional jet designs that have been proposed to meet these same standards, are several years away from introduction into service,” said Robert Mobilio, Vice President, Engineering and Quality, De Havilland Canada. “Our fleet of more than 600 delivered Dash 8-400 aircraft will continue to derive benefits from these recertifications since operators will be able to access noise-sensitive airports with fewer limitations and lower noise-related charges without the need for product change to meet the stringent noise emission standards.”

FMI: www.dehavilland.com