Ethiopian Airlines selected as Dowty Propellers’ authorized African repair and overhaul facility for Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 propellers

Dowty Propellers has announced an agreement establishing Ethiopian Airlines as an authorized repair and overhaul facility in Africa for propellers on Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 regional airliners.

Under terms of this agreement, Dowty Propellers will provide training, technical data and equipment, along with support enabling Ethiopian to repair and overhaul Dowty Propellers’ R408 propeller hardware that equip the twin-engine Q400. Additionally, Dowty will supply continuous engineering and technical support for Ethiopian’s maintenance and support operations, including basing the first permanent Dowty Propellers Field Service Engineer in Africa at Ethiopian’s maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Addis Ababa.

“With the number of Q400 airliners continuing to grow in Africa, this localized solution offers greatly enhanced support for operators in a fast-developing region,” said Oliver Towers, the President of Dowty Propellers. “Ethiopian Airlines is a natural partner for us, as the carrier is Africa’s largest operator of Q400s, and it has a long history of repair and overhaul for Dowty composite propellers installed on Fokker 50 airliners.”

The Q400’s propeller system from Dowty Propellers incorporates six all-composite blades with an advanced swept design and optimized airfoil sections. Equipped with fail-safe electronic controls, this propeller system’s modular configuration eliminates mechanical control linkages to the cockpit, while facilitating the individual removal and replacement of blades.