For Horizon Air Capt. Perry Solmonson, saying goodbye to the Q400 is bittersweet. The turboprop plane has performed a pivotal function in his profession since he joined the airline in 1989.
Solmonson says his favourite a part of flying the Q400 comes from his function as a verify pilot – an skilled pilot who evaluates and certifies the data and expertise of different pilots.
Over time, I witnessed so many extraordinary pilots who actually have the ‘contact’ with this airplane,” mentioned Solmonson. “Horizon has some superb aviators right here. It’s a privilege to serve in a corporation that pulls and retains such gifted pilots, a legacy I do know we’re persevering with on the E175.”
The Embraer 175 jet or E175 is now the only plane flown at Horizon Air, Alaska Airways’ very long time regional airline sister firm, as we proceed to modernize our fleet. The final industrial flight of the Q400 was on Jan. 26 between Spokane and Seattle – precisely 22 years after its first income flight for Horizon on Jan. 26, 2001.
“We’re at a novel second in time,” mentioned Joe Sprague, president of Horizon Air. “With our shift to a single fleet of E175 jets, we’re laying a significant new cornerstone of the inspiration for our future.”
Flying two smaller fleets of plane wasn’t sustainable or price efficient for Horizon. Two of the whole lot was required: elements, instruments, coaching applications and extra. Except for pilots, each workgroup wanted to know two plane varieties. Shifting to 1 fleet sort permits us to higher focus all of our sources, which is essential throughout a time of unprecedented pilot attrition all through the regional airline trade.
The E175 jet is environment friendly and far quieter than the turboprop, plus it flies sooner. It’s effectively suited to small and creating markets in our community throughout the Pacific Northwest and past.
Our friends inform us time and again they get pleasure from flying the E175.
For those who haven’t flown it but, its advantages may shock you:
- The jet plane has three lessons of service, similar to our 737s
- Our elite members can get pleasure from upgrades to First Class and Premium Class
- All seats are window or aisle – there are not any center seats
- There are bigger overhead bins than the Q400 for stowing carry-ons
- There’s inflight leisure with greater than 800 free films and TV reveals to observe in your private gadgets
- There’s Wi-Fi connectivity on board, and we’ll start upgrading to streaming-fast satellite tv for pc Wi-Fi on the jets beginning in early 2024
Horizon at present flies 33 E175s with extra on the best way. By the top of 2023, we’ll have 41 jets and by the shut of 2026 we’re scheduled to have 50 of them.
“We’re nimble and we reply to modifications shortly,” he mentioned. “Horizon has succeeded at this for 41 years and I do know we’ll proceed that going ahead.”
With the transition from the Q400 to the E175, Solmonson says Horizon simply retains getting higher.
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