There was a lack of orders. And so, in early 2021, De Havilland Canada announced it was halting Dash-8 production. Construction is about to start again. At a new location.
De Havilland Canada mentions it almost in passing. The company announced on Thursday (September 22) the construction of a new factory 30 minutes east of Calgary. The name: De Havilland Field. The company said the final assembly of the DHC-515 Firefighter, DHC-6 Twin Otter and Dash 8-400 will take place at the new location. The Dash 8-400?
“We are currently working on bringing the DHC-6 Twin Otter and the Dash 8-400 back into production,” the company said. It would be a real comeback. In February 2021, De Havilland Canada announced that not to produce any new Dash 8-400 beyond currently confirmed orders. At the same time, the manufacturer closed the plant at Downsview Airport in Toronto that it had taken over from previous owner Bombardier. The reason was a lack of orders.
Own aircraft museum planned
However, there are various ways to rebuild production in a new location should the industry and demand for the Dash 8 recover, De Havilland Canada said at the time. And that’s how it’s really going to be with the new location.
The De Havilland Field is planned in Wheatland County in Alberta and is expected to create around 1,500 jobs. It will include manufacturing facilities, an airstrip, maintenance facilities, parts manufacturing and distribution centers, office and training facilities, and a De Havilland Aircraft Museum.