In a press release, De Havilland Canada announced the signing of an agreement with Widerøe, Norway’s leading regional airline, under which the operator will incorporate the Canadian manufacturer’s Extended Service Programme PLUS (ESP PLUS).
Widerøe is the launch customer for the program. With the agreement, it will double the service life of ten of its Dash 8-100 aircraft. They will thus be capable of operating 160,000 flight cycles. In addition, the agreement includes a program acquisition option for another ten aircraft in the fleet. The model had already increased its service life: thanks to ESP, its original service life of 80,000 cycles was increased to the current 120,000.
DHC-8s were introduced to the market in 1984. Since then, they have enjoyed a reputation as robust and reliable turboprops. Their good performance on short or poorly prepared runways made them an attractive option for regional airlines operating short-haul flights. In that sense, it was a great help in connecting remote communities.
Subsequent developments and upgrades made it an increasingly efficient and cost-effective model for commercial operations. In addition, its flexibility led to its adaptation to other functions. Today, DHC-8s are used in cargo operations, medical evacuations, airway calibration and navigation aids, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting, among others.
The PLUS program is the result of various structural and engineering analyses using aircraft fatigue and service data obtained through the current ESP program. Widerøe will incorporate the manufacturer’s Service Bulletin and Maintenance Programme Supplement to replace structural and system components as stated in the document. A similar program is also available for the Dash 8-300.
Robert Mobilio, De Havilland Canada’s Vice President of Engineering, said that both programs add an additional thirty to forty years of service. This is an industry first and reinforces the company’s tradition of building reliable aircraft that stand the test of time while continuing to deliver value to their owners and operators.
Widerøe stressed the importance of the program in ensuring the STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) network service in Norway. Such operations are important in the Nordic country, due to its geography and demographic conditions. In this way, aircraft life extension will be key until zero-emission technologies become available.
