N837CA is the second -300 to begin active flying out of Cleveland this week. Photo: Dave Reed - OPShots.net
After a slight delay, CommutAir has commenced service with the first of their newly acquired Dash 8-300’s. A total of five -300 series Dash 8’s are being obtained from Austrian operator Tyrolean Airways (Austrian Arrows) to add capacity on some of the more popular routes out of Cleveland Hopkins International on flights operated for United Express. The delay was caused when the aircraft, which arrived as -314 models configured for European operations, had to be converted to -311 models which meet US regulatory requirements. While the conversions were completed on schedule, FAA approval for the modifications took longer than anticipated.
With the start of service, Cleveland can now boast of playing host to all four of the Dash 8 series produced by Bombardier of Canada (formerly DeHavilland). Air Canada Jazz flies the -100 back and forth to Toronto several times a day, CommutAir uses it’s fleet of sixteen -200 series aircraft to a multitude of destinations, Colgan Air operates the big Q-400, and now CommutAir adds the -300 to the list.
Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. – OPShots.net
