Flash:
Thanks for correcting me: I took a quick look at the photo, saw the 6-blade props & shut down my brain. I certainly agree that on-paper the Q400 is the best-looking turbo-prop out there: faster, hauls mo' fannies & greater range than competitors. I also agree that the order book remains full. Now, if the airlines operating it would just stop crashing them . . . Maybe part of the underlying problem here is that regional carrier/turbo-prop aircrew are most often lower-time/non-military background pilots flying into smaller airports that have fewer ILS's & other navaids.