Upgrades designed to add years to Bombardier's Dash 8-100 turboprops

By Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Bombardier (TSX: BBD-B.TO) is launching a program to extend the life of one of its aircraft by helping customers to update their aging Dash 8 turboprops.

The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer's extended service program will add at least a decade to the useful life to Dash 8-100 aircraft, which first entered service in 1984.

De Havilland launched the Dash 8 in 1980, 12 years before Bombardier purchased the company from Boeing.

The 37-to 39-seat airplane will gain 40,000 flight cycles (takeoffs and landings) to a maximum of 120,000.

The aircraft is suited to rural airports and those with short runways that can't accommodate larger turboprops or jets.

"It's a first for Bombardier and will provide customers with a safe, cost-effective and reliable way to continue operating the Dash 8-100 aircraft beyond the 80,000 cycle point," spokesman John Arnone said in an e-mail.

There are 240 Dash-8 100s in service by 50 operators around the world. About 100 of them have flown at least 50,000 cycles.

Wideroe's Flyveselskap AS of Norway is the first customer to sign up for the program.

"The first Dash 8-100 aircraft in our fleet entered service in 1993 and have each done about 60,000 cycles so the extended service program will give the airplanes another 10 or 12 years of useful life," said Lars Kobberstad, chief executive of Wideroe.

Bombardier estimates that about 129 Dash 8 100s will be approaching the 80,000 cycle threshold between 2010 and 2019.

Benjamin Boehm, vice-president of Bombardier commercial aircraft, said the program will conduct stress and fatigue testing. Parts will be replaced under an approved service bulletin and new maintenance program approved by Transport Canada.

The program could eventually be expanded to Dash 8-200 and 300 models as they approach 80,000 flight cycles.

It wasn't immediately clear how much each airplane's upgrade would cost or whether Bombardier would earn any revenue from the program.

Extending the life of a plane could save airlines money by delaying the purchase of new planes, including the Q400, which lists for US$28 million.

Bombardier's shares closed at $5.10, up 25 cents or 5.15 per cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange.