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The bigger aviation buzz in 2007 has been the series of accidents involving SAS Dash8-Q400. As a reminder, landing gear collapsed twice when landing, and SAS eventually decided to stop flying the Q400. The media coverage played a large role in this decision, as customers started to “feel unsafe”.

Bombardier and SAS agreed on a settlement two days ago. It is confidential, but SAS confirmed a global compensation of slightly more than 164 million US$. This will be both in cash and as credits to buy new planes… including next generation Dash8-Q400 ! I wonder what customers reactions will be when SAS will start flying the Dash again. Even if I’m convinced this plane is safe, it’s perceived safety level suffered from the incidents.

The Bombardier announcement respects the secrecy, simply stating : “With regard to the Q400 landing gear incidents in 2007 Bombardier, SAS and Goodrich, the manufacturer of the landing gear, have come to a mutually satisfactory agreement – the terms of which are confidential.”

SAS is a bit more explicit, and they mention the incidents at first place, whereas Bombardier mention them in a much lighter way. Click here to read the SAS press release.

For more information, read this news item from AviationSafetyNetwork.

Before leaving 2007 behind us and flying in 2008 with our heads full of wishes and good resolutions, have a look back in 2007 events… may be there is something to learn (or not). This selection is obviously personal, certainly subjective, and I’m waiting for you to comment on events I missed !

1 - Airbus 380 in commercial service
Heavy Metal first. Singapore Airlines started to operate the Airbus 380 between Singapore and Sidney, on 25th of October. For the first time in years a new airliner type, not just a new family member, becomes operational. Note that all seats had been auctioned to the profit of charities.

2 - Dash8 Q400 story
After three consecutive landing gear related incidents, SAS decided to remove the Dash8-Q400 from operational service. Definitively. Media and public opinion had more influence on this decision than technical factors. Business is business.

3 - New LSAs by Cessna and Cirrus
Cirrus and Cessna both announced their Light Sport Aircraft projects. Other manufacturers do already offer projects, but with two major actors joining, the LSA category gains in credibility and promises fun to new generation of pilots.

4 - Eclipse 500 in commercial service
At the other end of the jet category, DayJet started flying Eclipse 500, offering on-demand service to their members. Such business is possible only because of the economical viability of the Eclipse Very Light Jet, a first of its class.

5 - DA50 maiden flight
In the plastic planes world, the DA50 will play the role of the family mover, as the Cessna 210 or the Piper Saratoga. 5 seats, 300 horse power, 150 knots in cruise. Except the D-Jet, it’s the single piece missing in the Diamond line of products, and the SuperStar made its maiden flight on 4th of April. I can’t wait to fly one !

6 - Cessna Diesel from factory
One more step in the diesel (r)evolution: Cessna offers the Thielert Centurion engine from factory. No more need for an expensive retrofit. Go Diesel Go !

7 - L-3 SmartDeck
For years the market of fully integrated glass cockpits had been dominated by Avidyne and Garmin… and here came L-3 SmartDeck. This new option should be available on Cirrus soon. I particularly like the separate panel for radios, including a keyboard to type the frequency in.

8 - Diamond seeking for new engine
Tensions between Diamond and Thielert are not new. Some unsolved minor malfunctions, and argument about a DA42 double engine failure are amongst the causes. On the 11th of July Diamond announced a successful test flight with a DA40 equipped with a MBTech TDI engine. Did I mention that both Diamond and MBTech have their headquarters in Wiener Neustadt airport ?

9 - Start of migration to China
Liberty, the manufacturer of the XL2, and Cessna both declared their intention to build some production units in China. Globalization everywhere…

10 - Cessna buys Columbia
The Columbia bankrupt story has been a sad and uselessly long one, but the end is not so bad: the Columbia 350 and 400 are now known as the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400. Long life to these new models, away from financial turbulence !

From a technical point of view, it is not possible to know by this time if the incident that occured in Copenhagen yesterday is related to the incidents involving other Dash 8 Q400 in the previous weeks. However, as in many industries, air transport is not always driven by technical and economical factors. The average passenger can not acquire an objective view how safe is a given airplane, or a given company.

The concept of “perceived safety” takes all its importance here. The opinion of passengers is mainly driven by what they see in media, and in this domain it is always easier to be the first to speak ! The principle is quite simple:

• Speak first - You’ll establish the truth
• Speak second - You’ll look like defendant, thus guilty
• Don’t speak - You’ll look like you have something to hide

So the only viable option is to speak first. In this particular case, SAS did so, and decided to definetly stop operating Dash 8 Q400 (SAS press release). This press release is all about confidence, and customers becoming doubtful, risk that the Q400 could damage SAS reputations, and so on.

Bombardier was then forced to replay via the press release I copied below (no link, thank you Mr. Bombardier’s webmaster…). It is about statistics, and disapointment about SAS decision, and also insists that the landing gear design is safe, and so on.

So apparently SAS prefers disturb its operation, and invest in new planes, instead of waiting for an investigation report before taking final decision on the Q400. Please don’t missunderstand me, I’m not saying they should wait. In terms of managing their reputation, and building public opinion via the media, it is the right thing to do. Sorry for Bombardier.

If technical and economical factors were driving the world, most of you would not be using PCs… however, air transport is not always driven by technical and economical factors…

Bombardier’s Press Release

“Bombardier Statement Regarding The Sas Decision On Its Q400 Aircraft Fleet

Toronto, October 28, 2007

Bombardier is disappointed with the SAS decision to permanently discontinue flight operations with the Bombardier Q400 aircraft given that the landing incident is still under investigation by Danish authorities.

While SAS chose to ground its Q400 turboprop fleet following the incident on October 27, 2007, Bombardier’s assessment of this situation, in consultation with Transport Canada, did not identify a systemic landing gear issue. Based on this we advised all Q400 aircraft operators that they should continue with normal Q400 aircraft flight operations. Further, Bombardier and the landing gear manufacturer, Goodrich, have completed a full review of the Q400 turboprop landing gear system and results have confirmed its safe design and operational integrity.

Bombardier stands behind the Q400 aircraft. Since entering revenue service in February 2000, the Q400 turboprop has proven itself to be a safe and reliable aircraft with over 150 Q400 aircraft in operation among 22 operators around the world. To date, the fleet of Q400 aircraft has logged over one million flying hours and 1.2 million take-off and landing cycles. “