The aircraft manufacturer de Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC) will temporarily pause the production of the DHC Dash 8-400 after the completion of the existing orders. Whether this can be resumed is still in the stars.

“We will not be producing 'whitetail' and market demand will determine our future production plans for the Dash 8-400 aircraft. De Havilland Canada has not specified the length of such a break, should it occur, ”a spokesman told Aviation Direct when asked. Whitetails are aircraft that are built in stock, but do not yet have a buyer. With the exception of Boeing, it is uncommon for finished commercial aircraft to be “stored”.

The spokesman did not answer how many machines will be manufactured before production is temporarily stopped. According to CH-Aviation.com, there should be 22 firm orders, with only 13 units known to customers: Six should go to Ethiopian Airlines, four to TAAG Angola Airlines, two to Biman Bangladesh and one to Air Tanzania.

“We continue to sell and supply Dash 8-400 aircraft and support the global fleet of Dash 8 Series aircraft as we take appropriate steps to protect our people and our business. We are examining various scenarios for the future with many stakeholders. We will communicate more openly on this issue when plans are approved and confirmed, ”said the spokesman. The Dash 8-400 will be manufactured at the Toronto-Downsview location, which will be leased from the former owner of the DHC-2023 program until at least 8 due to the contract with Bombardier.

Under the direction of Bombardier, little has been invested in modernizing the design that was once a best seller. The number of new orders fell significantly year after year. Longview Capital took over the program in 2019 and renamed the machine type again: de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Dash 8-400. The designation "Q400" was buried, although most airlines have never used it anyway. But do not prevent various media from snoring this step.

The currently unclear situation for the future of turboprop aircraft production could also have a significant impact on Bombardier, its employees and in particular the Toronto-Downsview location. It is not in the dry hands that DHC will continue the leasing. As a result, many jobs are in acute danger and Bombardier, as the former owner, has a plant on its neck that is no longer needed. Longview Capital is considering that if production continues, the end of the month could be carried out at other locations. Among other things, the group also owns the rights to the DHC-6, which is produced in small series.