Is a Dash-8 NEO in the works?

[deicer]

https://dehavilland.com/corporate-initiatives/de-havilland-aircraft-of-canada-dash-8-roadmap-announced/

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8 Roadmap Announced

July 22, 2024

Farnborough, United Kingdom, July 22, 2024 – For more than four decades, the Dash 8 family of aircraft has established the benchmark for regional turboprops accumulating over 46 million flight cycles of experience in operations globally. The aircraft type has delivered unequalled performance, robustness, value, and efficiency to a wide range of operations in some of the most demanding and harsh environments on the planet.

With new DHC production facilities at De Havilland Field near Calgary, Alberta coming on stream in the latter portion of the decade, the time is right to determine what operators are looking for in their fleet planning, and where a new Dash 8 might fit in.

To best understand our customer’s needs, De Havilland Canada has assembled a Product Strategy Council and has been meeting over the past months with operators in North America, Oceania, Japan, Africa, and Europe, to understand their requirements and expectations as their businesses objectives and passenger preferences evolve into the future.

Once these discussions are complete, De Havilland Canada will be considering the feedback we have received from our Product Strategy Council to determine the roadmap for the Dash 8 program strategy. This is the same approach DHC undertook prior to developing new production programs for the DHC-515 Firefighter and the Twin Otter Classic 300-G.

“De Havilland Aircraft of Canada would like to thank the operators who have participated in this important initiative,” said Ryan DeBrusk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for De Havilland Canada. “It’s clear that the Dash 8 continues to be a highly valued fleet for operators around the world whether in an airline’s network or performing a specialized mission. Our teams have been energized by the valuable feedback we have received and are working hard to provide a roadmap to our customers that outlines the future of the Dash 8 program.”

While this work is underway, we remain committed to enhancing the platform through in-service support and new features such as cargo conversion upgrades, cabin enhancements, avionics upgrades, our ESP+ life extension program, and our OEM Certified Refurbishment Program.

About De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited

With more than 5,000 aircraft delivered, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) is well established across the globe and our talented team of aviation professionals is dedicated to advancing our near-100-year reputation for excellence in innovation, production, and customer support. Our aircraft operate reliably in some of the world’s harshest climates and provide vital connections between rural communities and urban centres – transporting essential cargo and millions of passengers annually. Our aircraft also support a wide variety of special mission operations including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and coastal surveillance. Visit: www.dehavilland.com

[Specs]

I would have guessed some kind of electric model.  

[Turbofan]

In 2005 Longview aviation purchased the rights to the DHC1 through DHC7.  Parts production for these aircraft began in Victoria.  Assembly of the updated Twin Otter and CL515 began at the Calgary airport.

When Longview purchased DeHavilland’s name and the Dash 8 production from Bombardier in 2018, Bombardier also sold the Downsview assembly plant. This gave Longview 3 years to find a new location for production and assembly. Then Covid hit and Dash 8 interest cratered. Setting up in Ontario became cost prohibitive.

Longview decided to let Dash 8 assembly temporarily stop with the intent of a longer term strategy. To consolidate all production and assembly to a field just east of Calgary.

https://dehavillandfield.com/

What you are seeing is the preparation to restart Dash 8 production.  The Q’s design is now approaching 30 years old. They haven’t broken ground on the new facility so I would think actual production of a newly designed Dash is still almost a decade out.  The last I read was no later than 2033.  But there has been push back from locals in Wheatland county trying stop the plant and new airport.

At the moment production and assembly is still split between two facilities in YYC and one at YYJ.  Dash 8 production won’t get off the ground without a new location.

https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/varcoe-big-year-for-de-havilland-as-it-adds-staff-expects-to-break-ground-on-massive-facility-in-alberta

[conehead]

2 hours ago, Turbofan said:

 But there has been push back from locals in Wheatland county trying stop the plant and new airport.

Really? I guess they don't like the thought of a lot of good jobs and $$$ flowing into the area!

[Airband]

22 hours ago, Specs said:

I would have guessed some kind of electric model. 

..or continuation of an SP model they've done for Porter.

[Malcolm]

De Havilland eyes 2025 decision for possible Dash 8 production reboot | News | Flight Global

De Havilland eyes 2025 decision for possible Dash 8 production reboot

By Jon Hemmerdinger23 July 2024