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Cobham has welcomed its sixth Dash 8 Q400 into its fleet, ahead of its planned start of commercial services from mid-February.
The new aircraft will support the operator’s charter and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) operations from its Perth base.
Cobham’s regional services managing director Claude Alviani said that Cobham’s growing Q400 fleet marks the company’s commitment to reducing emissions and improving environmental outcomes.
“The Q400 turboprop has the lowest fuel consumption per passenger seat of any turboprop in the industry, while maintaining jet-like speed,” he said.
“It offers a 30 per cent reduction in fuel burn compared with competing regional jets, radically reducing carbon emissions.”
Between its recent additions to its E190 and Q400 fleets, Cobham said it has been leading the charge in creating a “greener” FIFO sector.
“The E190 jet and Q400 turboprop provide greater flexibility of rosters, suitability for regional aerodromes, increased reliability, and low carbon emissions,” the company said in a statement.
“Cobham is committed to providing air travel options with lower carbon emissions for a greener future and we have plans underway to introduce four more modern aircraft to our fleet in the coming months,” Alviani added.
It comes after Cobham welcomed its third Embraer E190 to its fleet in October and its fourth in December.
Cobham first announced its fleet renewal program in 2019, which included the return of E190s to its fleet, as it expanded its work in the FIFO market.
Today, Cobham utilises its fleet of E190s and Bombardier Q400s for both VIP charter and FIFO operations, largely in support of Australia’s mining, oil and gas industries.
Earlier, in July, Cobham joined Qantas and Virgin Australia in signing up to a working group aimed at advancing the creation of sustainable aviation fuel.
The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Alliance of Australia and New Zealand is overseen by Bioenergy Australia, which itself is attempting to shift the country’s energy output to bio-based fuel, gas, heat and power.
MERV CROWE
says:That info is slightly out of date as their 4th E 190, VH-ULB, actually entered service on 30/12/21
Their 5th one I understand is due in the next month or so.
Their E 190s are VH-IQA/IQU/IQY and ULB.
Their 6th Q400, VH-IYP is due to enter service within the next week.