De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has received approvals from the FAA and the EASA for the Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft as having met the most stringent noise emission standards. The aircraft is therefore certified to Stage 5 standards set by the FAA and certified by EASA as having met ICAO Chapter 14 standards. The Dash 8-400 aircraft was the first propeller-driven aircraft, and also the first regional aircraft in the world, to meet ICAO Chapter 14 standards when it was certified by Transport Canada in 2020.

Featuring six-bladed Dowty propellers on P&WC PW150A engines the Dash 8-400 aircraft has been acoustically engineered to ensure it is as quiet on the outside as it is inside the cabin. In order to further boost the comfort for passengers the 8-400 is engineered with a newly improved proprietary active noise and vibration suppression system that reduces the propeller noise level inside the aircraft to maximise cabin comfort.

“The approvals by the FAA and EASA have confirmed that the Dash 8-400 aircraft's advanced design positions it well ahead of current regional jets and turboprops in delivering low community noise during take-off and landing. Furthermore, new regional jet designs that have been proposed to meet these same standards are several years away from introduction into service,” says Robert Mobilio, vice president, engineering and quality, De Havilland Canada. “Our fleet of more than 600 delivered Dash 8-400 aircraft will continue to derive benefits from these recertifications since operators will be able to access noise-sensitive airports with fewer limitations and lower noise-related charges without the need for product change to meet the stringent noise emission standards.

“The Dash 8-400 noise emission approvals also offer increased opportunities for urban planners to minimise the impact of commercial aviation on communities while the industry works to develop next-generation propulsion technology such as the hybrid-electric propulsion technology being developed by Pratt & Whitney Canada in collaboration with De Havilland Canada,” adds Mobilio.

“The Chapter-based, noise-related charges employed by certain airports in Europe allow airports to align with ICAO's standards and encourage airlines to adopt the quietest class of aircraft available in the market. As the Dash 8-400 aircraft can meet the Chapter 14 Minus category, which is the quietest category even amongst Chapter 14 aircraft, our customers can benefit from significant discounts. An example of this is seen at Gatwick Airport, where operators of Dash 8-400 aircraft can benefit from discounts of 60-80% compared to operators of Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 aircraft,” concludes Philippe Poutissou, vice president, sales and marketing, De Havilland Canada.