The quest for greater efficiency on current airline platforms has driven an alliance between Tamarack Aerospace and SkyAlps, an Italian airline. Under the terms of the letter of intent signed by the parties, Tamarack will provide its Eco-SmartWing active winglet system to install on the SkyAlps fleet of de Havilland “Dash 8s,” as the popular Q400 model is known.
SkyAlps operates the fleet out of Bolzano Airport (LIPB) into the southern Tyrol region of the Alps, lending the company its name. By using the twin turboprop de Havilland Q400s, SkyAlps already offers a 50 percent reduction in carbon footprint for its flights over competitors using regional jet platforms. The implementation of the SmartWing technology will further improve efficiency by 7 to 8 percent. The Dash 8s will also see performance improvements along with the noise reduction, and lower fuel burn and emissions.
