Gloucester, United Kingdom – QantasLink has contracted with Dowty Propellers to provide a complete propeller system support package for the airline’s inventory of Bombardier Q400* regional aircraft, including repair and overhaul, technical assistance and support. The fleet will be supported from Dowty’s Asia Pacific MRO facility in Brisbane, Australia that recently expanded its capability to cover Q400 propeller systems.
The multi-year agreement is backed by Dowty Propellers’ full capabilities as type certificate holder for the propeller system, and builds on the existing support being provided to QantasLink. Using Dowty Propellers’ in-country facility ensures that logistic costs and timescales are minimised, and the comprehensive understanding of the fleet and the product allows efficiencies in total maintenance cost to be achieved. This approach has allowed Dowty Propellers to provide a solution meeting the specific needs of QantasLink at minimum cost while maintaining the full benefit of OEM maintenance.
Dowty Propellers’ advanced propeller system on the Bombardier Q400 turboprop incorporates six all-composite blades with an advanced swept design and optimised airfoil sections. It offers excellent climb and cruise performance, while generating low noise levels. Equipped with fail-safe electronic controls, the propeller system’s modular configuration is designed to help reduce maintenance costs – eliminating mechanical control linkages to the cockpit, while facilitating the individual removal and replacement of blades.
“Dowty is a world-class leader in propeller systems and we’re pleased that we’ve secured the agreement, which will deliver through-life savings on the Q400 aircraft, and having a world class facility in Dowty Brisbane nearby allows us to save significantly in logistical costs” said John Gissing, QantasLink CEO.
“Dowty Propellers is pleased to be evolving our support of QantasLink and our Brisbane team in particular is excited by this agreement,” said Dowty Propellers’ President Oliver Towers. “Our agreement allows QantasLink to benefit from the full resources of the propeller system’s original manufacturer, ensuring the aircraft are maintained to the highest standards.”
QantasLink operates to 57 metropolitan and regional destinations in Australia, as well as to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. QantasLink has 31 Q400, 16 Q300, three Q200 and 18 Boeing 717-200 in its fleet.
About Dowty Propellers
As a leader in the development, manufacture and support of electronically controlled, all-composite propeller systems, Dowty Propellers provides solutions for the propulsion needs of today and tomorrow. Its products are used in applications that range from commercial airliners and military airlifters to multi-role seaplanes and marine hovercraft.
With a proven record of product development, introduction and support, Dowty Propellers continually invests in technologies, production capabilities and human resources – resulting in propeller systems that are safe, efficient and reliable. Its history of firsts-to-market includes the all-composite propeller blade and full-authority digital propeller control. More than 23,000 advanced composite blades have been delivered to date by Dowty Propellers, with the lead blade logging over 45,000 hours of flight time.