De Havilland Canada Dash 7
Encyclopedia
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop
-powered regional airliner
with STOL
capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada
, was purchased by Boeing
and was later sold to Bombardier
. Bombardier sold the aircraft design (type certificate
) to Viking Air
in 2006.
aircraft, notably the very popular Twin Otter
. However, these aircraft were generally fairly small and served outlying routes, as opposed to the main regional airliner
routes which were already well served by larger, higher-performance aircraft such as the Handley Page Jetstream and Fokker F27
.
The de Havilland Canada company felt they could compete with these designs in a roundabout way. With their excellent STOL performance, their designs could fly into smaller airports more centrally located in city centres, with runways that the other aircraft could not easily use. The original specification called for a 40-passenger aircraft with a fairly short range of 200 statute miles, operating from runways only 2000 ft (609.6 m).
With new noise restrictions coming into effect throughout the 1970s, an aircraft tailored for this role would also have to be very quiet. To meet this restriction, the new design used oversized propellers geared to spin at a slower speed than normal; much of the sound from a propeller is generated at the tips which are spinning near the speed of sound, and therefore, by reducing the number of RPM, this noise is reduced substantially. The Dash 7 often landed with only 900 rpm, and took off at only 1,210.
In other respects, the new DHC-7 was essentially a larger, four-engine version of the Twin Otter. The general layout remained similar, with a large T-tail intended to keep the elevator clear of the propwash during take-off, a high aspect ratio
high-mounted wing, and most details of the cockpit and nose profile. Changes included the addition of cabin pressurization which required a switch to a fuselage with a circular cross-section and landing gear that folded forward into the inner engine nacelles.
The Twin Otter incorporated "flapperons" that drooped the ailerons as part of the flaps, but these were not included in the Dash 7 due to weight and complexity. Instead the ailerons were reduced in size to allow more flap area, and were augmented with two sets of roll-spoilers. The inboard roll spoilers operate at all speeds while the outboard roll spoilers only operate at speeds less than 130KIAS to allow for more roll control at slower speeds. Upon touchdown both the inboard and outboard roll spoilers extend in unison to aid in destroying lift created by the wing. Each wing also includes two ground spoilers which only extend on touchdown. Most of the rear wing was spanned by a complex double Fowler flap arrangement for high lift at low speed. During a typical STOL landing flaps would be selected to the 45° position. This flap setting allowed for steeper descents and slower approach speeds. Depending on weight the VREF speed with flaps at 45° would be between 70-85 knots. On touchdown, through switches in the main gear, the flaps would automatically retract to the 25° position and thus reduce lift once on the runway for better braking performance. The flaps would also retract to 25° when engine power was increased during a go-around
procedure. The four-engine layout aided lift at low speeds due to the wide span of the propellers blowing air over the wing. When reverse thrust
was selected on landing, the props push air forward and slow the airplane effectively along with the anti-skid wheel brakes. More importantly, if an engine failed, the asymmetric thrust was much less than on a twin-engine layout, thereby increasing safety and allowing for a lower minimum control speed with an engine inoperative (VMC).
on February 3, 1978. One hundred were delivered by 1984, when the production line was put on hold in favour of the Dash 8. Another 13 were delivered between 1984 and 1988, when the production lines were removed when Boeing
bought the company.
The original Series 100 represents the vast majority of the aircraft delivered, and came in two models; the -102 passenger version and -103 combi
with an enlarged cargo door. These were followed by the Series 110 which met British CAA requirements, including the -110 and -111, and finally the Series 150 which included additional fuel tankage and an improved interior in the -150 and -151. There were plans for a Series 200 with the new PT6A-50/7 engines which improved hot-and-high power, but these plans were shelved when Boeing ended production of the design.
The mixture of features on the Dash 7 met with limited commercial success. Most turboprop operators used them as feederliners into large airports, where the STOL performance wasn't considered important. In comparison to other feederliners, the Dash 7's four engines required twice the maintenance of a twin-engine model, thereby driving up operational costs. Finally, those airports that did require a high performance STOL operation were generally small and well served by the Twin Otters; had the airport needed a larger plane to serve its customer base, they would have built larger runways. One exception to this was operations at London City Airport
which, upon opening in 1987, was capable of handling few aircraft types besides the Dash 7.
The Dash 7 also gained a number of military orders. The first of these was for two aircraft for the Canadian Armed Forces
, who needed them to transport high ranking passengers and freight around Europe. These aircraft received the CF designation CC-132 and were delivered to No.412 Squadron at Lahr, in West Germany.
The United States Army
operates several Dash 7 aircraft as surveillance platforms with the designation EO-5C (RC-7B before 2004) under the Airborne Reconnaissance Low program.
Transport Canada
operates a single DHC-7-150IR aircraft to conduct maritime surveillance, pollution and ice patrols as part of the Transport Canada
National Aerial Surveillance Program (N.A.S.P.). The aircraft's home base is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
. During the summer months this aircraft conducts patrols throughout the Canadian Arctic, Alaska and Greenland. During the fall and winter months this aircraft conducts patrols of the Great Lakes and east or west coasts of Canada as required.
The design of a much more "conventional" twin-engine design commenced at de Havilland in 1978, resulting in the extremely popular Dash 8. The DHC-7 production line eventually delivered 113, of which four have been lost and one scrapped. Many of the rest remain in service.
DHC-7-100
DHC-7-101
DHC-7-110
DHC-7-111
DHC-7-150
DHC-7-150IR
CC-132
O-5A (RC-7 ARL)
EO-5B (ARL-C)
EO-5C (RC-7B)
As of September 12, 2008, a total of 68 Dash 7 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service.
The British Antarctic Survey
(BAS) operates a single Dash 7 in support of its research program in Antarctica. The aircraft undertakes regular shuttle flights between either Stanley
on the Falkland Islands
, or Punta Arenas
in Chile
, and the Rothera Research Station
on Adelaide Island
. It also operates to and from the ice runway at the Sky Blu Logistics Facility
on the Antarctic mainland. Kaiken Líneas Aéreas also operated two Dash 7s between Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz, in Argentina.
A single DHC-7 150IR is owned and operated by Transport Canada
conducting coastal pollution and ice patrols across the Canadian Arctic.
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
-powered regional airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
with STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada
De Havilland Canada
The de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, was purchased by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and was later sold to Bombardier
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
. Bombardier sold the aircraft design (type certificate
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
) to Viking Air
Viking Air
Viking Air Ltd. is a manufacturer of aircraft, as well as aircraft parts and systems, based in Victoria, British Columbia. The company produces new versions of the DHC-6 Twin Otter, upgraded versions of the DHC-2 Beaver, spare parts for older de Havilland Canada aircraft, and components for Bell...
in 2006.
Design and development
In the 1960s, de Havilland Canada was already well known worldwide for their series of high-performance STOLSTOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
aircraft, notably the very popular Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
. However, these aircraft were generally fairly small and served outlying routes, as opposed to the main regional airliner
Regional airliner
A regional airliner or a feederliner is a small airliner designed to fly up to 100 passengers on short-haul flights, usually feeding larger carriers' hubs from small markets. This class of airliners are typically flown by the regional airlines that are either contracted by or subsidiaries of the...
routes which were already well served by larger, higher-performance aircraft such as the Handley Page Jetstream and Fokker F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
.
The de Havilland Canada company felt they could compete with these designs in a roundabout way. With their excellent STOL performance, their designs could fly into smaller airports more centrally located in city centres, with runways that the other aircraft could not easily use. The original specification called for a 40-passenger aircraft with a fairly short range of 200 statute miles, operating from runways only 2000 ft (609.6 m).
With new noise restrictions coming into effect throughout the 1970s, an aircraft tailored for this role would also have to be very quiet. To meet this restriction, the new design used oversized propellers geared to spin at a slower speed than normal; much of the sound from a propeller is generated at the tips which are spinning near the speed of sound, and therefore, by reducing the number of RPM, this noise is reduced substantially. The Dash 7 often landed with only 900 rpm, and took off at only 1,210.
In other respects, the new DHC-7 was essentially a larger, four-engine version of the Twin Otter. The general layout remained similar, with a large T-tail intended to keep the elevator clear of the propwash during take-off, a high aspect ratio
Aspect ratio (wing)
In aerodynamics, the aspect ratio of a wing is essentially the ratio of its length to its breadth . A high aspect ratio indicates long, narrow wings, whereas a low aspect ratio indicates short, stubby wings....
high-mounted wing, and most details of the cockpit and nose profile. Changes included the addition of cabin pressurization which required a switch to a fuselage with a circular cross-section and landing gear that folded forward into the inner engine nacelles.
The Twin Otter incorporated "flapperons" that drooped the ailerons as part of the flaps, but these were not included in the Dash 7 due to weight and complexity. Instead the ailerons were reduced in size to allow more flap area, and were augmented with two sets of roll-spoilers. The inboard roll spoilers operate at all speeds while the outboard roll spoilers only operate at speeds less than 130KIAS to allow for more roll control at slower speeds. Upon touchdown both the inboard and outboard roll spoilers extend in unison to aid in destroying lift created by the wing. Each wing also includes two ground spoilers which only extend on touchdown. Most of the rear wing was spanned by a complex double Fowler flap arrangement for high lift at low speed. During a typical STOL landing flaps would be selected to the 45° position. This flap setting allowed for steeper descents and slower approach speeds. Depending on weight the VREF speed with flaps at 45° would be between 70-85 knots. On touchdown, through switches in the main gear, the flaps would automatically retract to the 25° position and thus reduce lift once on the runway for better braking performance. The flaps would also retract to 25° when engine power was increased during a go-around
Go-around
A go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach.- Origin of the term :The term arises from the traditional use of traffic patterns at airfields. A landing aircraft will first join the circuit pattern and prepare for landing in an orderly fashion...
procedure. The four-engine layout aided lift at low speeds due to the wide span of the propellers blowing air over the wing. When reverse thrust
Thrust reversal
Thrust reversal, also called reverse thrust, is the temporary diversion of an aircraft engine's exhaust or changing of propeller pitch so that the thrust produced is directed forward, rather than aft. This acts against the forward travel of the aircraft, providing deceleration...
was selected on landing, the props push air forward and slow the airplane effectively along with the anti-skid wheel brakes. More importantly, if an engine failed, the asymmetric thrust was much less than on a twin-engine layout, thereby increasing safety and allowing for a lower minimum control speed with an engine inoperative (VMC).
Operational history
Development started in 1972 and the prototype first flew on March 27, 1975. Testing went smoothly, and the first delivery took place to Rocky Mountain AirwaysRocky Mountain Airways
Rocky Mountain Airways was an American commuter airline headquartered in Hangar No. 6 of Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado. It was sold to Texas Air Corporation/Continental Airlines in 1986....
on February 3, 1978. One hundred were delivered by 1984, when the production line was put on hold in favour of the Dash 8. Another 13 were delivered between 1984 and 1988, when the production lines were removed when Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
bought the company.
The original Series 100 represents the vast majority of the aircraft delivered, and came in two models; the -102 passenger version and -103 combi
Combi
In commercial aviation, the term combi refers to versions of various aircraft that can be used for either passenger, as an airliner would, or cargo duties, as a freighter would, and often have a partition in the aircraft cabin to allow both uses at once...
with an enlarged cargo door. These were followed by the Series 110 which met British CAA requirements, including the -110 and -111, and finally the Series 150 which included additional fuel tankage and an improved interior in the -150 and -151. There were plans for a Series 200 with the new PT6A-50/7 engines which improved hot-and-high power, but these plans were shelved when Boeing ended production of the design.
The mixture of features on the Dash 7 met with limited commercial success. Most turboprop operators used them as feederliners into large airports, where the STOL performance wasn't considered important. In comparison to other feederliners, the Dash 7's four engines required twice the maintenance of a twin-engine model, thereby driving up operational costs. Finally, those airports that did require a high performance STOL operation were generally small and well served by the Twin Otters; had the airport needed a larger plane to serve its customer base, they would have built larger runways. One exception to this was operations at London City Airport
London City Airport
London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
which, upon opening in 1987, was capable of handling few aircraft types besides the Dash 7.
The Dash 7 also gained a number of military orders. The first of these was for two aircraft for the Canadian Armed Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, who needed them to transport high ranking passengers and freight around Europe. These aircraft received the CF designation CC-132 and were delivered to No.412 Squadron at Lahr, in West Germany.
The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
operates several Dash 7 aircraft as surveillance platforms with the designation EO-5C (RC-7B before 2004) under the Airborne Reconnaissance Low program.
Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
operates a single DHC-7-150IR aircraft to conduct maritime surveillance, pollution and ice patrols as part of the Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
National Aerial Surveillance Program (N.A.S.P.). The aircraft's home base is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. During the summer months this aircraft conducts patrols throughout the Canadian Arctic, Alaska and Greenland. During the fall and winter months this aircraft conducts patrols of the Great Lakes and east or west coasts of Canada as required.
The design of a much more "conventional" twin-engine design commenced at de Havilland in 1978, resulting in the extremely popular Dash 8. The DHC-7 production line eventually delivered 113, of which four have been lost and one scrapped. Many of the rest remain in service.
Variants
DHC-7-1- Prototypes, two built.
DHC-7-100
- Production passenger variant with a maximum of 54 passengers (with 43000 lb (19,504.5 kg) takeoff weight).
DHC-7-101
- Production passenger/cargo variant with a maximum 50 passengers and a left hand forward cargo door (with 43000 lb (19,504.5 kg) takeoff weight).
- Production passenger variant with a maximum of 54 passengers (with 44000 lb (19,958.1 kg) takeoff weight).
- Production passenger/cargo variant with a maximum of 50 passengers and a left hand forward cargo door (with 44020 lb (19,967.1 kg) take-off weight.
DHC-7-110
- DHC-7-102 certified for use in the United Kingdom.
DHC-7-111
- DHC-7-103 certified for use in the United Kingdom.
DHC-7-150
- Improved 1978 version with higher gross weight, increased fuel capacity and improved passenger amenities,
DHC-7-150IR
- One series 150 modified in 1986 for Transport CanadaTransport CanadaTransport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
for Ice/Pollution patrols of the Canadian Arctic.
CC-132
- Canadian military designation for the Series 102/103
O-5A (RC-7 ARL)
- Converted by California Microwave Incorporated 1991-92
EO-5B (ARL-C)
- United States military designation for Series 102
EO-5C (RC-7B)
- Converted by California Microwave Incorporated 1996
Accidents and incidents
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7 has been involved in six accidents (and 10 incidents overall) with a total of 68 fatalities.- April 28, 1982 - Aerovías Nacionales de HondurasSahsaServicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
DHC-7-103 hijacked at Le Ceiba-Goloson International AirportGolosón International AirportGolosón International Airport is an airport located on the western side of the city of La Ceiba, in the Atlántida Department on the north coast of Honduras. It is also known as La Ceiba Airport and Hector C. Moncada Air Base .-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
in HondurasHondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
with no lives lost - May 9, 1982 - AlyemdaAlyemdaAlyemda , internationally known as Democratic Yemen Airlines or just Yemen Airlines, was the flag carrier airline of South Yemen.-History:...
DHC-7-103 crashed into sea near Aden International AirportAden International AirportAden International Airport is an international airport in Aden, Yemen .The airport was established on the former RAF Khormaksar, which opened in 1917 and closed as an RAF station in 1967. It later served as a Soviet Air Force station during the 1970s and 1980s...
in YemenYemenThe Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
killing 23 of 49 on board. - June 23, 1982 - Henson Airlines DHC-7 hijacked at Staunton-Shenandoah Valley AirportShenandoah Valley Regional AirportShenandoah Valley Regional Airport is a public airport located in Weyers Cave, 10 miles northeast of the central business district of Staunton, in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline...
, in VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with no lives lost. - February 15, 1983 - Rio AirwaysRio AirwaysRio Airways was a regional passenger airline headquartered in Killeen, Texas, United States. This airline began operations in or before 1970, and went out of business in 1987. Rio Airways operated briefly in a code-share arrangement with Delta Air Lines whereby Rio flights were booked and sold...
Flight 252 DHC-7-102 hijacked at Nuevo LaredoNuevo LaredoNuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with none of 20 on board injured. - May 6, 1988 - Widerøe Flight 710 DHC-7-102 crashed on a hillside during poor weather near Brønnøysund Airport in NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, killing 36 on board. - November 28, 1998 DNK Aviation Leasing Group DHC7-102 crashed after engine failed during a test flight near AshburtonAshburton, DevonAshburton is a small town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway.It was formerly important as a stannary town , and remains the largest town within the National Park, with a population of around 3,500...
, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
killing the crew of 2. - July 23, 1999 - US Army DHC-7-102 (O-5A) crashed into mountain near Orito in Putumayo province in ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
killing all seven on board. - September 7, 1999 - Skyline (Nigeria)Skyline (Nigeria)Skyline was an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria operating chartered and scheduled domestic passenger flights out of Port Harcourt Airport. It was established in March 1999 and started operations in June 1999. In 2003, the airline ceased to exist.- Fleet :...
DHC-7-102 damaged from belly landingBelly landingA belly landing or gear-up landing occurs when an aircraft lands without its landing gear fully extended and uses its underside, or belly, as its primary landing device...
at Port Harcourt Airport in NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
with 19 on board (no fatalities). - September 4, 2002 - Asian SpiritAsian SpiritZest Airways Inc. is an airline based in the Asian Aeronautics Hangar in the General Aviation Area in Pasay City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It operates scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and Cebu with 24 domestic destinations in...
Flight 897 DHC-7-102 slid off runway at Manila-Ninoy Aquino International AirportNinoy Aquino International AirportThe Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
with 49 on board (no fatalities). - May 1, 2006 - Trans Capital Air (TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
based charter company) for United Nations Mission in LiberiaUnited Nations Mission in LiberiaThe United Nations Mission in Liberia is a peace-keeping force established in September 2003 to monitor a ceasefire agreement in Liberia following the resignation of President Charles Taylor and the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War....
(UNMIL) DHC-7-102 crash-landed at Zwedru AirportTchien AirportTchien Airport is an airport serving Tchien in Liberia....
in LiberiaLiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
after landing gear failed to extend, with 40 on board (37 Ethiopian soldiers) uninjured.
Airline operators
As of September 12, 2008, a total of 68 Dash 7 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service.
- Air GreenlandAir GreenlandAir Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
(6)
- Airkenya Express (2)
- Aviones Comerciales de Guatemala (Avcom)Aviones Comerciales de Guatemala (Avcom)Aviones Comerciales de Guatemala is an airline based in Guatemala City, Guatemala. It was established in 1929, operates domestic charter services and is associated with TACA...
(1) - Aéro Ruta Maya (1)
- Berjaya AirBerjaya AirBerjaya Air is an airline based in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. It operates domestic scheduled and charter services, as well as regional flights. Its main base is Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Subang, Malaysia.- History :...
(3)
- British Antarctic SurveyBritish Antarctic SurveyThe British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
(1)
- ConviasaConviasaConviasa is an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas. It operates services to domestic destinations and to destinations in the Caribbean and South America...
(1) - Linea Turistica AerotuyLinea Turistica AerotuyLínea Turística Aereotuy is an airline based in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates services to remote destinations in Venezuela, including tourist attractions. Its main base is Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas.-History:...
(2)
- HelicolHelicolHelicol is a helicopter operator based at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. It is a subsidiary airline of Avianca.- History :...
(1)
- Pelita Air ServicePelita Air ServicePelita Air Service is an airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It operates on behalf of the state oil company Pertamina and provides executive transport, charters, oil and gas support operations and general aviation services. Its main base is Pondok Cabe Airport....
(6)
- Petroleum Air ServicesPetroleum Air ServicesPetroleum Air Services is an airline based in Cairo, Egypt. It provides oil industry support services and has extensive helicopter operations. The airline also operates commercial passenger services within Egypt and to regional cities. Its main base is Cairo International Airport..- History :The...
(5)
- Regional Air Services (Tanzania)Regional Air Services (Tanzania)Regional Air Services is an airline based in Arusha, Tanzania. It is the Tanzanian division of Airkenya and operates domestic services and charter flights in East and Southern Africa .-History:...
(1)
- Air TindiAir TindiAir Tindi is an airline based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Now owned by Discovery Air, it operates scheduled and on demand charter services. Its main base is Yellowknife Airport and the airline was formerly owned by the Arychuk family...
(3) - Transport CanadaTransport CanadaTransport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
(1) - Voyageur AirwaysVoyageur AirwaysVoyageur Airways is an airline based in North Bay, Ontario, Canada that commenced operations in 1968. Along with air charters they also repair and maintain aircraft and an air ambulance service. They also provide ground handling, fuel services and terminal services at the North Bay/Jack Garland...
(6) - Trans Capital Air (9)
Former operators
- Tyrolean Airways (2)
- AirBC
- Time AirTime AirTime Air was an airline in Canada founded in 1966 by businessman Walter “Stubb” Ross from Lethbridge in Alberta. It was originally called "Lethbridge Air Service" before becoming Time Air...
- City ExpressCity ExpressCity Express , also known as Air Atonabee Ltd., was an Ontario, Canada based airline that operated passenger service in eastern Canada,the northeastern United States and the center and eastern Mexico from 1971 to 1991.- Fleet :...
- WardairWardairWardair Canada was a privately-run Canadian airline, founded by Max Ward in 1953 under the name Wardair Ltd, before formally changing its name to "Wardair Canada" in 1976...
(2) (both named 'Don Braun')
- SahsaSahsaServicio Aéreo de Honduras SA otherwise known as SAHSA Airlines was the national flag carrier airline of Honduras from October 22, 1945 to January 14, 1994...
- Ansett New ZealandAnsett New ZealandAnsett New Zealand was a wholly owned airline subsidiary of Ansett Australia, serving the New Zealand domestic market between 1987 and 2000. In order to comply with regulatory requirements relating to the acquisition of Ansett Australia by Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand was sold to News...
- Skyline (Nigeria)Skyline (Nigeria)Skyline was an airline based in Lagos, Nigeria operating chartered and scheduled domestic passenger flights out of Port Harcourt Airport. It was established in March 1999 and started operations in June 1999. In 2003, the airline ceased to exist.- Fleet :...
- Widerøes FlyveselskapWiderøeWiderøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
(11) - DNK Aviation Leasing Group
- Asian SpiritAsian SpiritZest Airways Inc. is an airline based in the Asian Aeronautics Hangar in the General Aviation Area in Pasay City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It operates scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and Cebu with 24 domestic destinations in...
(3)
- Adria AirwaysAdria AirwaysAdria Airways d.d. is the Slovenian national airline. Today, the majority of Adria Airways business is in scheduled flights. Adria operates to 16 cities throughout Europe this winter and offers excellent connections to South East Europe. It is a Star Alliance member since 2004 and a Lufthansa...
(2)
- Brymon (12)
- Eurocity ExpressLondon City AirwaysLondon City Airways was a former British airline which was founded in 1986 by British Midland to operate services from London City Airport. The company was originally known as Eurocity Express.-History:...
(2) - London City AirwaysLondon City AirwaysLondon City Airways was a former British airline which was founded in 1986 by British Midland to operate services from London City Airport. The company was originally known as Eurocity Express.-History:...
(4)
- Air Wisconsin Airlines (13)
- Henson Airlines
- Ransome AirlinesRansome AirlinesRansome Airlines was a commuter airline which was headquartered at Northeast Philadelphia Airport in Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Dawson Ransome, it began operations as an independent carrier in 1967. Ransome was particularly noted for operating the Dash 7 as it...
(8)
- AlyemdaAlyemdaAlyemda , internationally known as Democratic Yemen Airlines or just Yemen Airlines, was the flag carrier airline of South Yemen.-History:...
(3) - Air Nuigini
- Arkia (4)
Other civilian operators
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
(BAS) operates a single Dash 7 in support of its research program in Antarctica. The aircraft undertakes regular shuttle flights between either Stanley
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Stanley is the capital and only true cityin the Falkland Islands. It is located on the isle of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope in one of the wettest parts of the islands. At the 2006 census, the city had a population of 2,115...
on the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, or Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas is a commune and the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antartica Chilena. The city was officially renamed Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to Punta Arenas...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and the Rothera Research Station
Rothera Research Station
Rothera research station is a British Antarctic Survey base on the Antarctic Peninsula, located at Rothera Point, Adelaide Island. Rothera also serves as the capital of the British Overseas Territory, the British Antarctic Territory....
on Adelaide Island
Adelaide Island
Adelaide Island or Isla Adelaida or Isla Belgrano is a large, mainly ice-covered island, long and wide, lying at the north side of Marguerite Bay off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The island lies within the Argentine, British and Chilean Antarctic claims, at .Adelaide Island was...
. It also operates to and from the ice runway at the Sky Blu Logistics Facility
Sky Blu
Sky Blu is a forward operating station for the British Antarctic Survey in southern Palmer Land, Antarctica. It is in an area of Blue Ice...
on the Antarctic mainland. Kaiken Líneas Aéreas also operated two Dash 7s between Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz, in Argentina.
A single DHC-7 150IR is owned and operated by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
conducting coastal pollution and ice patrols across the Canadian Arctic.
Military operators
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
(two delivered 1979, flown until 1987)
- United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(10 - 1 O-5A, 2 EO-5B, 5 RC-7B)
- Venezuelan Navy (one delivered in 1982)