newstodate.aero
Dec 19, 2013 (newstodate): Initially operating in Sweden and later placed with West Air Luxembourg, the world's first Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 converted freighter is now flying in warmer skies.
Since December 12, 2011, the Q400PF is in the fleet of the Kenyan carrier Blue Bird Aviation, based at Nairobi, flying cargo shipments into regional destinations including Somalia.
The carrier has later added a second ex-SAS converted Q400PF to its fleet that now comprises a total of 12 Dash-8 aircraft of various types, five of which are ex-SAS aircraft that were phased out by this carrier after a series of incidents in 2007.
The first converted Q400 aircraft was acquired by the Swedish cargo operator Nord-Flyg by early 2009, but the company saw little success from the operation.
The aircraft, then taken over by a Swedish leasing company, was next delivered to West Air Luxembourg by early 2011, but served only briefly and also without success till it was sold to the Kenyan carrier.
Since December 12, 2011, the Q400PF is in the fleet of the Kenyan carrier Blue Bird Aviation, based at Nairobi, flying cargo shipments into regional destinations including Somalia.
The carrier has later added a second ex-SAS converted Q400PF to its fleet that now comprises a total of 12 Dash-8 aircraft of various types, five of which are ex-SAS aircraft that were phased out by this carrier after a series of incidents in 2007.
The first converted Q400 aircraft was acquired by the Swedish cargo operator Nord-Flyg by early 2009, but the company saw little success from the operation.
The aircraft, then taken over by a Swedish leasing company, was next delivered to West Air Luxembourg by early 2011, but served only briefly and also without success till it was sold to the Kenyan carrier.