Farnborough Critical For Q400

The fourth-built Q400 variant of the Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8 turboprop will be on static display at this week's Farnborough show, underlining the manufacturer's push for European sales.

The demonstration aircraft is painted in the colors of Team Lufthansa, since it is engaged in video and photography work in advance of Augsberg Airways' planned acceptance of the first of five Q400s in October.

Bombardier says the airliner is fitted with a special interior featuring seats of differing pitch throughout the cabin, and is "not representative of the customer layout." After the show, the aircraft will depart on a ten-day European demonstration tour.

The Q400 has been in operation with Denmark-based SAS Commuter since February of this year. Six aircraft are now in service. Tyrolean Airways of Innsbruck, Austria put two Q400s in service in June.

The latest iteration of the proven Dash 8 regional turboprop, the Q400 recently figured in the ongoing Brazil-Canada debate over the legality of each nation's respective aircraft sales subsidy programs.

Last month, Bombardier said Brazil's continued use of the ProEx financing scheme allows Embraer to sell its regional jets "at turboprop prices," a trend that Bombardier said could lead to job cuts at the Toronto plant that builds the Q400.

As a result, Canada sought World Trade Organization approval to block nearly $5 billion in Brazilian imports over seven years, a figure the Canadian government said is "equivalent to the benefits afforded Brazil through ProEx."

Brazil threatened to respond in kind, and representatives of the two nations have met twice since the Canadian action in the hope of reaching a compromise agreement to present to the WTO.

By Paul Richfield