WESTJET'S SMALLEST AIRCRAFT! Saab 340B Calgary to Lethbridge with WestJet Link
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- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2019
- In April, I flew with WestJet Link, WestJet's commuter brand, to try out their Saab 340!
WestJet Link was introduced in 2017 to bring more connecting traffic to WestJet's hub in Calgary, using Saab 340s under a Capacity Purchase Agreement with Pacific Coastal Airlines of British Columbia.
See what I thought of WestJet's smallest aircraft in today's trip report!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Pacific Coastal (PCO/8P)
Aircraft: Saab 340B (SF34)
Flight Number: WS3008
Seat: 2F
Livery: Basic Integra Air w/ Pacific Coastal titles
Engines: 2x GE CT7-9B
Registration: C-GOIA
Route: Calgary (YYC) - Lethbridge (YQL)
Callsign: PASCO 3008
Runway used: 29 (YYC) - 23 (YQL)
Date filmed: April 2019
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© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2019
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission.
MEDIA: Please contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.
You know it's a small town airport when a John Deere ride-able lawn mower is the luggage tug!
they even make these lawn tractors with FUEL INJECTION now. I want one.
I was thinking the exact same thing! LOL!!!
I may have been the one to load and push this plane!
That's so cool!
@Raul Zaid oh STFU bots
WHAT!!!??? I cannot believe it! There was no IFE. There was no interactive flight map. There was no WiFi. There was no USB 3.0 port. There was no universal 110/220 recharging plug. … All you had to keep you occupied was some airline magazine. I know that I will be losing sleep over wondering just how you managed to survive that flight! Ha… Ha… Ha!
As always, I stay totally grateful for videos like yours, and this particular video reminded me so much of all the flights I made on an “Allegheny Commuter”, Beechcraft 99 King Air between Chicago and my hometown of Danville, Illinois (USA). For me, one of the best things about flying a propjet is the drone of the engines, which works as good as any sleeping pill for knocking me out. The most notable part of your video though was the views of Calgary and the mountains. They were absolutely stunning!
I’ll close with another exceptionally earnest appreciation for your post. I’ll be back in a day or so to read the comments that other viewers will leave. They all seem to bring out some good things I might have missed.
Mier XI You missed the joke completely
I used to fly on the Saab planes as a kid. Getting from Palanga/Kaunas (Lithuania) to Kristianstad/Ronneby Airport (Sweden) back in mid/late 90's. Really comfy and stable planes
I once chartered a Saab for an extended sightseeing flight over the Swiss Alps. I DID choose Seat 2A because I needed access to the PA mic.
"Ding-ding, everyone in row's 1-6 please report to the front wheel to push the airplane back now". LOL 8)
Westjet 3008 pushback at your discretion, approve use of manual power.
Thank you for sharing this! Always fun to fly on smaller planes like this.....and more fun than driving!
those 340's appear to pretty durable aircraft.... lots here in Australia...
They're widely used in southern Florida by an airline called Silver Airlines. Seems like ever other aircraft landing ar Key West is a 340.
Gotta love Rex
I wanna go to Australia
Redviper_hornet 4921 trust me it’s awesome there
Formerly Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba out of MSP and DTW had a whole bunch of them. I flew a 340-B from SUX (Sioux City, IA) to MSP once.
If you’re wondering about Kamloops, YKA Airport’s runway can actually accommodate 737s, though WestJet flies Q400s into Kamloops
I have a photo of a West Jet 737 at Fruitloops, BC.
Fascinating. I rarely get to fly on aircraft this small and love trip reports about them.
Just another lovely Trip Report Alex! Absolutely brilliant work editing and including all the important info for us to hear! Cheers
Aww I miss the 340's. I always got 2A because the FA was a friend and it was her line.
Very enjoyable video, Alex. I love these SAAB’s. I have not flown on the 340, but have taken a few flights in the U.K. on the 2000, which is a later version. I advise everyone to go to the toilet before getting on the plane as the design is, shall we say, smaller than your average trailer bathroom. I love the prop jets and always get a rush when the prop pitch changes with the power. Brisk acceleration and excellent climb. For our friends in the US, flying in and out of Calgary can be similar to Denver - very windy due to the close mountains.
Great comment, and you brought out a good point about the lavatory. Generally, before I take flights I take a couple of "Imodium". It seems that restroom cleaning is not a huge priority on both the aircraft and in airports.
There is a big difference between the 340 and the 2000 - and it's not just the size. The 2000 has sound-deadening technology on board, so it is much quieter than the 340 - a fact I discovered from flying Tampere-Stockholm on both types. The Saab 2000 sounds and feels like a jet in comparison. I would compare the 340 with the Jetstream J41 - both are small and noisy when tried against the Saab 2000.
Pacific Coastal lands in Victoria multiple times daily , nice to see the connection with West Jet
Commuter airlines to me are more fun and somewhat down to earth kind of flying.. Thanks for sharing...
Windy Lethbridge is where I do all my flight training. Getting pretty good at cross-wind landings.
I always get concerned when I come across your reviewing a “smaller” plane due to your above average height! As always, you appear to get through it all right and I admire your fortitude. This was a great, educational video with marvellous and clear filming. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Colin.
With this video you rekindled some fond memories of some of the prop flights I took, what a treat....thanks.
Flew this same route back in April also. Cool video!
I fly from the States to YQR via YYC frequently (often on Alaska/Horizon or Delta (Skywest)/Westjet. Always enjoy your vids and always nice to see YYC! Nice job Alex!
Really loved the video Alex. The Saab is a very unique aircraft!
Alex, Very nice. Thanks
its such a nice plane i fly on them all the time with regional express in australia
I enjoy these vids - I love flying and love Westjet!
I used to regularly fly the 340 from KSUX to KMSP via Northwest Airlines mainly because it was the largest plane flying out of SUX for a long time. Didn't really mind them and they were certainly better than the 19-seat glorified cropduster that was the alternative at the time.
Did you know Wally the station manager there in SIOUX CITY?
You are very lucky with your trips! You’re a huge inspiration to all of us smaller youtubers :)
Fantastic footage on-board the WestJet Flight 3008 Saab 340 from Calgary to Lethbridge mate
That’s one nice little bird. Fantastic trip report!
don't feel too bad. even Salt Lake City has boarding off the tarmac to LA! the last time I did that was leaving Ottawa in a DC-3......in 1960. Still have that b&w photo.
Another great video and the SAAB 340 is a very common sight for us in Australia.
I have been one one flight where the only passengers on the flight were dad and I.
Excellent video from onboard Pacifics Saab340 mate. Very nice you get a little something complimentary too.
Brilliant review as always.
Liked 👍 ✈️
Love the view of the Rockies. I flew a Saab 340B operate by Air Chathams from Kapiti (Wellington) regional airport to Auckland in July 2019. Had seat 10A (window) at the back of the aircraft. Like with Alex, I had turbulence all the way to Auckland. Being a 65 minute flight, our friendly flight attendant served water then tea/coffee and 2 chocolate biscuits and a sweet prior to landing. Despite the turbulence and a very nervous passenger behind me, the flight was good.
Great vid!
Back in the day, 1980s on business I often used to fly out of Detroit to several mid western cities and SAAB 340B (Mesaba Airlines) was frequently the aircraft. Loved flying in it. Cockpit Door open for takeoffs and landings. (Sigh!!!!) .The good old days
great video !:) i like Saab 340 and Saab 2000( i flew with them)...a nice design and a fabulous turbo fan !:)
I've flown a Pac Coastal Saab 340 before. Quite a cozy experience but not the smallest I've flown. (Pacific Coastal themselves had six-seaters not too long ago)
Awww
So cute 😊
Great video, Alex!!
As a guy who's 6'6" I appreciate your reviews on cabin room. :)
Brilliant TripReport Alex, the Saab’s are great to fly on. On some Saab 340s, it’s rows 1-11 and 2-12. Looks like you were on a 2-12 one.
Awesome video dude!
Great video. 👏🏻
Haha omg! I actually flew that airplane, Calgary to Lethbridge many times. Pacific Coastal is a great company, great people, lots of memories. The reason it is not painted in the westjet livery is because Pacific Coastal alternates this Aircraft for their Link operations and own flying on the west coast.
Awesome trip report! I didn't know WestJet Link was a thing... xD
Fond memories flying Rex, Tasmania to the Australian mainland.
Nice trip report, Alex. The next video on my watchlist is the Dash 7 :)
With the city of Lethbridge taking over the airport from the county of Lethbridge it will be interesting to see what upgrades they will. I
I've ridden that SF34 with silver airways down in Florida and it's not a bad time! It's not very tall people friendly but otherwise I like a lot. Great video!
For many traveling years my home airport, KEVV had nothing but turboprop service and some was pretty bad. I always preferred a Saab 340 if I had the option. We were really stoked when Comair came in with the CRJ.
Nice.
Use to fly on REX’s Saab 340 a lot when I was a kid.
Another great video Alex, thanks for posting.
What a shock - landing into a West Wind in Lethbridge LOL.
you want WIND, you got Lethbridge..........or Oklahoma. All wind, all the time.
I felt in love with aviation thanks saab 340 of disappeared swiss airline Crossair in Firenze Peretola Airport.
My first flight was a SAAB 340 back in 1989 for Trans World Express. There's always something neat and different about flying on a turboprop...
i am 5'10" so I do not mind flying aboard the Saab 340. My last flight was on Nok Mini in Thailand between Bangkok and Buriram. Now Nok Air use new Dash 8-400 for this flight.
VERY different experience than what I know about SAAB having worked at a dealership as an intern for a year, the cars are well....Interesting
In the late 40s when the SAAB aircraft engineers took their first stab at making a car they actually invented the modern car... transverse front wheel drive with unequal length driveshafts (more than 10 years ahead of the Austin Mini as many think to be the first). But then the engineers went even madder and turned the engine backwards and put it on top of the transmission in the 60s. Most interesting to me as an engineering student in the 80s before being bought out they even invented the computer system expensive modern cars use to detect fuel quality by measuring the temperature within the combustion chamber at any given moment by supplying 80v and a low current to measure the resistance of the spark plug at all times when its not sparking. Most cars still don't have this technology all these years later. Instead they have a knock sensor... an archaic microphone listening for a bang noise after damage may have occurred due to low octane fuel.
There is one at the Vancouver airport kind of on display on its on on one of the side roads. It is a small little thing.
I've flown several times between Memphis and Tallahassee on these Saab 340's. This is back in the early '00's. They were operated by Mesaba, flying for NorthWest. Noisy and uncomfortable but good looking planes. Great vid, as always.
I am flying From Lloydminster to Medicine Hat on October 3. Just watching to see how you enjoyed the flight.
On your next video, try flying on Bearskin Airlines Metrolinerr 3 from Winnipeg to Fort Frances
very nice as always trip report...the terminal dedicated to westjet Link is rather drab and sinister.
LOL! "reminds me of a Cosco Warehouse"
As of February 2023, C-GOIA has been repainted into the new Westjet livery.
Silver airways in florida flys them i looove the saab 340
That staircase going down in YYC looks like the staircase in ikea in calgary🤣
Yes the stairway was assembled from a large box...... 😂
Excellent avion pour de courtes distances,...Semble quand même confortable ! J'aimerais bien l'essayer un jour peut-être !?!?! ;-) Excellent reportage M. Alex ! ;-)
I miss working on the Saab
Hey Alex ! You should try Pascan Aviation Saab340´s from Montreal Saint-Hubert YHU or Quebec City YQB. We are operating scheduled flights every day to Magdalen Islands YGR this summer! Our Saab’s have a refreshed interior with buy on board service. Plus, the views are incredible in Magdalen in summer with turquoise water, beaches and red cliffs all around the island. Let me know if you are planning to, I can help maybe! ✈️
On our TUI aircraft row 1 is only seat ABC and only starting DEF starting from row 2
For a great aircraft they seem to be down for maintenance a lot with Pacific Coastal/Westjet, especially on this flight from YYC to Lethbridge. When Westjet/Pacific Coastal cancels this flight for "maintenance" you are stuck in one of the two airports for a 12-hour wait for the next connection, unless it too is down for "maintenance". So what is a two hour drive on the Red Arrow bus or by car becomes a half-day layover with a couple of meal vouchers from the carrier. Better to take the bus or drive rather than playing "maintenance" roulette on what is probably an undersold aircraft that the carrier is holding so they can load it up.
WestJet for life! My mom works at WestJet or for westjet
I flew a Saab 340 on TAG airlines in Guatemala city
Any chance you could go to BATUS to see British Army Helicpoters please ?
Didnt Time Air used to fly that route with SD330 few years back
Shout out to Darrell Kinght from Calgary , great pilot
Time Air was a long time ago. They stopped flying in 1993 with a merger and became Canadian Regional Airlines.
Rik B - I sit corrected. Haha. Thanks for updating me on that.
Wow I knew about westjet encore but not westjet link. So now it’s westjet, westjet encore, link and swoop, right?
Smallest? Try a Beech 1900C or 1900D - 19 passenger turboprop. Were popular in and out of smaller airports to larger hubs for the major carriers.
What city is that at 6:25
This would be the perfect plane to fly from our airport, KHMA. So many people travel from our area to MSY; instead they could fly from our airport to IAH or DFW and ATL.
In the description you say "WestJet's commuter brand" So what is WestJet Encore? Is it another commuter brand? Or is it they're Regional Brand? I think I just answered my own question... But please get back to me so I know for sure. P.S. Love the video (because you mention my hometown Cranbrook) KEEP IT UP!!!
WestJet Encore is a subsidiary of WestJet, with their own airplanes - WestJet Link is a brand name for flights operated by Pacific Coastal.
@@AlexPraglowskiAviation Ohhh, Thank you very much!
Apart from the legroom issue, the best seats on any prop aircraft are as close to the rear as possible. Much quieter as far from the props as you can get. That's why first class on 2-class prop aircraft was always at the rear, the opposite of jets where it's quieter at the front.
Curious why you sometimes wait several months, as with this one, before posting your videos?
Between travelling for more videos, uploading more time-sensitive ones first (such as the WestJet 787s), and life outside of RUclips, they take a while to make.
It feels a bit sketchy sitting across the blades. Never know when they can snap :)
Never know, the plane could crash. My point is, is that it is very unlikely, there is nothing to worry about.
saab 340s still fly out of KPNS - silver airways - but will be replaced with ATRs soon...340 size props are almost gone :(
I hope this was better than the air canada beach1900d
If I were to start an airline the Saab 340’s would be a good place to start. However, they are no longer produced and the fleet still flying is way up there in age.
Can someone tell me the differences between WestJet Encore and WestJet Link?
WestJet Encore is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestJet, and only operates Q400s. WestJet link is operated by Pacific Coastal on behalf of WestJet using Saab 340s.
The train Thanks!
I must say the Pacific Coastal flights are a much better option than the Georgian Air in Cranbrook and other western markets. Aircraft are in much better condition
Air Georgian no longer operates the B1900 for Air Canada. Jazz has taken over the routes to YQL and YXH with the DH8-300. We no longer serve YXC from Calgary.
westjet express is the sw Ontario region
Sorry but I couldn't ignore the fact that if the propeller decides to loosen itself it would hit right in your seat. Too used to flying on jet engine planes I guess.
Ah Calgary....where we’ve had a $30 airport improvement fee forever, yet the departure area for these flights looks like a morgue.
I flew out of the D part going back to Heathrow a few days ago, and it was fine. Good apart from the oddly long security queue.
Were you ever in the Mesaba concourse “G” at the old terminal in Detroit back in the 80’s??? Now that was a morgue!
Row 1 is for the pilots
What’s the difference between economy and plus
The difference is between.
You get one extra cookie. ☺
CC-177 - 5:40
Highway?
@@jeffreygosselin1143 military plane parked below
Did anyone get sick from the turbulence?
i never knew they fluw those things
Funny name for planes
Your voice sounds like Sam Chui one
Does west jet make profit with 9 passengers on that flight
no
the lone male cabin crew has a nice voice.
Stopped flying Westjet in BC when they introduced the hub concept. First ran into it in Terrace BC when Westjet wanted me to fly to Calgary via Prince George and wait almost 2 hours for a flight to YVR, and pay more money for the privilidge..no thanks. I'll take anyother airline even over priced Air Canada.
God I love turboprops.
Swedish reliability! ✈️ 🇸🇪