Qantaslink Q400s with ADS-B

Zac M · #1 1st April 2014, 08:47 PM

Just having a search around FR24 tonight when something caught my eye, Qantaslink Dash 8-Q400 VH-QOX is now fitted with ADS-B, first of what I assume will be many turboprops fitted in the coming years!

Edit: just picked up QOI as well!

Noel White · #2 1st April 2014, 10:26 PM

That's interesting Zac. I logged VH-QOI this morning at 0730 as Mode-S only, not as full ADS-B (no lat & lon transmitted). Was away last week so my last log for VH-QOX was 16 March (Mode-S only).

Have a look at this subject in the FR24:-
http://forum.flightradar24.com/threa...ll=1#post49528
that might explain how you may have seen these two Q400s on FR24 due to the auto MLAT application.

Grahame Hutchison · #3 2nd April 2014, 10:05 AM

Noel, I regularly pick up VH-QOI as Mode-S only, and have never seen any Lat/Long transmitted.

Zac M · #4 2nd April 2014, 11:35 AM

Yep, MLAT is picking up most dash 8s in the BNE area as well as ATRs, today I have picked up Q400s QOD, F, H, I, P, R, U, V, W, X and LQB, DH8Cs SCE, SBB, I, W, TQD and QQN of Skytrans as well as TQG and all of the ATRs flying around the area , they can only be picked up above 7000ft

lloyd fox · #5 4th April 2014, 05:57 PM

Yes and Alliance F50'S and Corporate Air Saabs also showing out of Brissie as well.

Simon Jowett · #6 3rd August 2014, 10:57 PM

I was wondering if anyone had any information as to if and/when the Dash 8 200's will be retrofitted with ADS-B? I'm interested in tracking the flights to Lord Howe Island and the -200's are the only QL aircraft to fly there. I understand the drop dead date for 2017 both wondered if there was any more information on a schedule.

Thanks for any help or advice you can provide.

Max C · #7 4th August 2014, 03:37 AM

Fair chance nothing will happen until closer to the required date.

Priority will be to install ADS-B into the Q400's first.

Given the Lord Howe Contract is up for renewal around 2016/17 QLink may not have a use for the Q200's if they don't do Lord Howe in the new contract.

Simon Jowett · #8 4th August 2014, 05:33 PM

Thanks for the feedback - I thought as much which is a shame as the ADS-B set-up I've cobbled together seems to work really well (better than I thought it would). I was hoping to deploy it on LH Island as an early warning that the scheduled service was about to arrive.

It's a real concern for the islanders that the -200 is the only aircraft in service with a major airline (put me right if I am not correct here) which can land on LDH very short 1006M runway. If Qantas did not renew/bid etc what would happen I wonder?

ADS-B notes
If anyone is interested I've used a USB TV tuner ($15), a home made Coaxial colinear antennae (<$10) and a Raspberry Pi computer+Wifi Dongle (~<$80) acting as a mini server on my home network. I'm able to get aircraft as far north as Tamworth and as far south as Canberra (admittedly at FL>300). I'm located in the shire near Sutherland.

Hugh Jarse · #9 5th August 2014, 04:17 PM

Have they lengthened the runway? For all the years I operated there it was about 885m.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of smaller aircraft that could operate there, but most probably not be financially viable to do so.
Word around the traps is the 200's are to go within the next 12 months. Those aircraft would be close to end of life by now.
I suspect that somebody else might step up to the plate. There are other DHC8 operators around who might tender for the licence.

Simon Jowett · #10 5th August 2014, 09:46 PM

..you are right Hugh ...886M. Now where did I get the idea it was 1006?!

....at the same time I believe Qantas are already signed up until 2018 or am I misreading this

http://centreforaviation.com/news/qa...service-348424

which would see the -200's in the fleet for another 4 years at least.