AIRLINE REVIEW
8 The cockpit of Widerøe ’ s Dash 8-100 . Notice the analog airspeed and the flaps position , both shown by dedicated dials . On the right , the artificial horizon and the navigation displays .
9 The heart of the life extension program . Two aircraft can be housed in Widerøe ’ s latest hangar , built in 2019 .
10 A classic Dash propeller undergoing some reparation in Bodø . It features four blades , while the larger Dash 8-400 has six .
Dash 8-100 on the apron and invited me to check it out up close . I wore the mandatory high-visibility jacket and , having already cleared security , I was accompanied to LN-WIU , a 30-year-old Dash 8-100 .
Despite its age , the airframe seemed straight out of the factory , with minimum signs of wear and tear on its fuselage and a fresh layer of paint featuring Widerøe ’ s new livery . After taking several gigabytes of pictures and videos of this plane , it was time to return to the terminal and wait for the flight to Leknes .
I boarded LN-WIW and was again invited to join the Captain and First Officer in the cockpit . I thanked the crew and asked whether I could attach my GoPro to the side window . This cockpit could not have been more different from that of the much-younger E2 . Excluding the two flight management systems , I could count only six small screens on board . Most information is conveyed through analogic dials : altitude , airspeed , engine temperature , etc . The Captain told me that the airline is considering replacing some analogic dials with a glass cockpit .
We taxied to the middle of the runway and lined up for takeoff . Thanks to the low load factor and the Dash 8-100 ’ s performance , we only needed less than half of Runway 25 ’ s 9,167ft ( 2,800m ). After a powerful takeoff run , we banked right , heading north to Leknes , which is one of the few landing sites in the Lofoten islands , served daily by Widerøe ’ s Dashes .
Surprisingly , the Dash 8 jump seat features more legroom than that on the E2 . The seat ’ s backrest is provided by the cockpit door , padded for comfort . During our short climb to FL050 , the aircraft felt agile and it was interesting to see the Captain and First Officer adjusting the thrust and , this being a turboprop , the pitch of the propellers ’ blades .
Turboprops are more efficient than turbofans at lower altitudes and speeds , but their blades require special surface maintenance to mitigate the effects of ice , rain and snow , which these aircraft often encounter in winter . The Dash 8 enables Widerøe to operate flights to short landing strips safely and efficiently .
The Captain described the complexity of operating in this region . While , that day , weather was as good as it could be , with clear skies and almost no wind or clouds , these conditions are not typical ; Pilots are used to landing in strong winds ,
8
52 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com