Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet

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Canadair Regional Jet
Image:Lufthansa.crj-100.d-aclp.arp.jpg
Type	Regional jet
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace
Maiden flight	10 May 1991
Introduced	1992 (Lufthansa)
Status	In production
Primary users	SkyWest Airlines (190) Comair (168) Atlantic Southeast Airlines (144) Pinnacle Airlines (139) Mesa Airlines (113)
Number built	1,200+
Unit cost	US$24-39.7m as of 2006

The Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) is a regional airliner manufactured by Bombardier based on the Canadair Challenger business jet. The design was known originally as the Canadair CL-600-2B19 prior to Canadair's acquisition.

Design studies began in 1987, with the first prototype flying on May 10, 1991. The flight deck includes the all glass cockpit Collins Pro-Line 4 avionics suite that is EFIS based and features 6 CRT displays.

1 Development
2 Variants
3 Operators
4 Specifications
5 Incidents and accidents
6 References
7 External links
8 Related content

[edit] Development

The wide fuselage of the Challenger suggested early on to Canadair officials that it would be straightforward to stretch the aircraft to provide more seats, and there was a plan for a Challenger 610E, which would have had seating for 24 passengers. It didn't happen, the effort being cancelled in 1981, but the idea didn't go away, either.

In 1987, studies began for a much more ambitious stretched configuration, leading to the formal launch of the Canadair Regional Jet program in the spring of 1989. The "Canadair" name was retained despite the fact that Bombardier had bought out the company. The first of three development machines for the initial CRJ-100 performed its first flight on 10 May 1991, though one of the prototypes was lost in a spin mishap in July 1993, The type obtained certification in late 1992, with initial delivery to customers late in that year.

The CRJ-100 was stretched 5.92 meters (19 feet 5 inches), with fuselage plugs fore and aft of the wing, and featured two more emergency exit doors, plus a reinforced and modified wing. Typical seating was 50 passengers, the maximum load being 52 passengers. The CRJ-100 featured a Collins ProLine 4 avionics suite, Collins weather radar, GE CF34-3A1 turbofans with 41.0 kN (4,180 kgp / 9,220 lbf), new wings with extended span, more fuel capacity, and of course improved landing gear to handle the higher weights. It was followed by the CRJ-100ER subvariant with 20% more range, and the CRJ-100LR subvariant with 40% more range than the standard CRJ-100.

[edit] Variants

Several models of the CRJ have been produced, ranging in capacity from 40 to 86 passengers.

[edit] CRJ-100

The CRJ-100 is the original 50-seat version. It is equipped with General Electric CF34-3A1 engines.

[edit] CRJ-200

Image:Bombardier CRJ-200ER Air Nostrum VLL.JPG

The CRJ-200 is identical to the CRJ-100 except for its engines, which were upgraded to the -3B1 model, offering improved efficiency.

Like the -100, the -200 has 50 passenger seats, two pilot seats, one flight attendant jumpseat, and one pilot observer seat. The normal airline configuration is 2+2 seating in rows 1 through 12 and 2+0 in row 13, with the lavatory taking up the right side of row 13. There is also an option to add a second flight attendant jumpseat at the rear of the cabin.

Pinnacle Airlines operates a 44-seat version with closets in the forward and aft areas of the passenger cabin. These modifications are designed to allow operations under their major airline contract "scope clause" which restricts major airlines' connection carriers from operating equipment carrying 50 or more passengers to guard against usurpation of Air Line Pilots Association & Allied Pilots Association pilots' union contract. Similarly, Comair's fleet of 40-seat CRJ-200s were sold at a discounted price to discourage Comair from purchasing the less expensive and smaller Embraer 135.

In August 2006 a total of 938 CRJ-100 and CRJ-200 aircraft (all variants) are in airline service, with 8 further firm orders. Major operators include Air Nostrum (35, Plus 7 orders), Lufthansa CityLine (38), Air Canada Jazz (58), Air Wisconsin (70), Atlantic Southeast Airlines (112), Comair (149), Mesa Airlines (55), Pinnacle Airlines (139), PSA Airlines (35) and SkyWest Airlines (118). Some 19 other airlines also operate smaller numbers of the type.<ref name="FI">Flight International, 3-9 October 2006</ref>

[edit] CRJ-440

Similar to CRJ-200 but reduced MTOW and capacity for only 40 to 44 passengers. Exclusive customer with 77 aircraft is Pinnacle Airlines operating as Northwest Airlink.

[edit] CRJ-700

Image:SkyWest-United Express Canadair CRJ-700ER.jpg Image:D-ACPF 2006-07-05 3927.jpg

Stretched 70-seat version. The CRJ-700 is equipped with the General Electric CF34-8C1 engine. Maximum speed is Mach .85 at a maximum altitude of 41,000 feet (12,500 m). Depending upon payload, the CRJ-700 can travel up to 2250 statute miles (3,600 km) with current engines, and a new variant with CF34-8C5 engines will be able to travel up to 2895 miles (4,660 km). The CRJ-700 features a new wing with leading edge slats and a stretched and slighly widened fuselage. This enables the aircraft to carry up to 78 passengers with a crew of 2 plus cabin crew. The first flight was in 1999 and it entered service in 2001. Competes loosely with the Embraer 170. CRJ-700 comes in two subvariants - Series 701 and Series 705.

The Series 705 is actually a CRJ-900, with a business class and a reduced maximum seating capacity to allow operation with scoped regional airlines. Some regional airlines have contracts with their major airlines that limit the maximum passenger capacity of aircraft they operate. Air Canada Jazz was the launch customer for this aircraft in 2005 with 10 executive (business) class and 65 economy seats.

In August 2006 a total of 260 CRJ-700 aircraft (all variants) are in airline service, with 29 further firm orders. Major operators include Lufthansa CityLine (20), American Eagle Airlines (25), Atlantic Southeast Airlines (35), Comair (27), Horizon Air (21) and SkyWest Airlines (57). Some 9 other airlines operate the type, but in smaller numbers. <ref name="FI"/>

[edit] CRJ-900

Stretched 86-seat version, with the GE CF-348C5 engines (13,360 lb thrust with APR) and added leading edge slats. Max GTOW is 82,500 pounds.The airplane is loosely based on the CRJ-200 series with a few major improvements. The environmental packs have a target temperature instead of a hot-cold knob. the cabin has a recirc fan which aids in cooling and heating. The engines are controlled by FADEC digital engine control instead of control cables and a fuel control unit. The cabin floor has been lowered 2 inches which gains outward visibility from the windows in the cabin. The APU is a general electric unit which supplies much more air to the AC packs and has higher limits for starting and altitude usage. The wingspan is longer, the tail is redesigned with more span and anhedral. In typical service the CRJ-900 can cruise 8-10,000 higher with a slightly higher fuel burn and an average true airspeed of 450-500 knots, a significant improvement over its predecessor.

Bombardier will decide whether to launch the proposed CRJ-900X stretch (89 to 100 seats) by the end of 2006 and it is partly dependent on securing additional customers. MyAir has ordered 19 CRJ-900s and would convert 15 to CRJ-900X aircraft if it went ahead. Atlasjet have also indicated interest in the new type. <ref name="FI"/>

Image:CRJ-900LR.jpg

Currently Mesa Airlines is the sole operator of the CRJ-900LR with 86 seats; others, notably SkyWest and Air Canada Jazz, operate the CRJ-705, a -900 fitted with 75 seats. The first CRJ-900 (N901FJ) was actually a CRJ-700 with a longer fuselage plug fore and aft. it sits in Tucson, AZ with only the flight test and ferry time on it. The CRJ-900 competes loosely with the Embraer 175, and according to Bombardier is more efficient per seat-mile. The Embraer airliners have significantly more range and a roomier cabin.

In August 2006 a total of 59 CRJ-900 aircraft are in airline service, with 36 further firm orders. Major operators include Mesa Airlines (38).<ref name="FI"/>

[edit] Challenger 800 / 850

Main article: Canadair Challenger

A business jet variant of the CRJ-200

[edit] Operators

The Canadair Regional Jet has served with dozens of airlines and remains active in many fleets.

Operators include airlines in North America, Europe, India, Bangladesh GMG Airlines, Africa and the Far East, including Comair, Mesa Airlines, Horizon Air, SkyWest, Pinnacle Airlines, GoJet, and Air Wisconsin in the US, Air Canada Jazz in Canada, Air Nostrum in Spain, Lufthansa in Germany, Air One in Italy, Brit Air in France, Adria Airways in Slovenia, Air Sahara in India J-AIR in Japan and SA Express (a subsidiary feeder airline of South African Airways) in South Africa.

[edit] Specifications

Variant	CRJ-100ER/LR	CRJ-200ER/LR	CRJ-700 (Series 701)	CRJ-700 (Series 705)	CRJ-900
Length Wing span Height	27.77 m (87 ft 10 in) 21.21 m (69 ft 7 in) 6.22 m (20 ft 5 in)	27.77 m (87 ft 10 in) 21.21 m (69 ft 7 in) 6.22 m (20 ft 5 in)	32.51 m (106 ft 8 in) 23.24 m (76 ft 3 in) 7.57 m (24 ft 10 in)	36.40 m (119 ft 4 in) 24.85 m (81 ft 6 in) 7.51 m (24 ft 7 in)	36.40 m (118 ft 10 in) 24.85 m (81 ft 6 in) 7.51 m (24 ft 7 in)
Engines Takeoff thrust Thrust APR	GE CF34-3Aq (2) 38.83 kN (8,729 lbf) 41.01 kN (9,220 lbf)	GE CF34-3B1 (2) 38.83 kN (8,729 lbf) 41.01 kN (9,220 lbf)	GE CF34-8C1 (2) 56.4 kN (12,670 lbf) 61.3 kN (13,790 lbf)	GE CF34-8C5 (2) 58.4 kN (13,123 lbf) 63.4 kN (14,255 lbf)	GE CF34-8C5 (2) 58.4 kN (13,123 lbf) 63.4 kN (14,255 lbf)
Max Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) Max payload	19,958 kg (44,000 lb) 6,124 kg (13,500 lb)	19,958 kg (44,000 lb) 6,124 kg (13,500 lb)	28,801 kg (63,495 lb) 8,527 kg (18,800 lb)	31,751 kg (70,000 lb) 10,319 kg (22,750 lb)	31,751 kg (70,000 lb) 10,319 kg (22,750 lb)
Maximum range	ER: 3,000 km (1,864 mi) LR: 3,710 km (2,005 mi)	ER: 3,045 km (1,895 mi) LR: 3,713 km (2,300 mi)	3,121 km (1,939 mi) ER: 3,676 km (2,284 mi)	3,591 km (2,231 mi) ER/LR: 3,773 km (2,344 mi)	2,956 km (1,837 mi) ER: 3,408 km (2,117 mi) LR: 3,660 km (2,274 mi)
Basic cruising speeds	Mach .78	Mach .78	Mach .78	Mach .78	Mach .80
Flight ceiling	12,496 m (41,000 ft)	12,496 m (41,000 ft)	12,496 m (41,000 ft)	12,496 m (41,000 ft)	12,496 m (41,000 ft)
Seating capacity	50 pass.	50 pass.	70 pass.	75 pass.	86 pass.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

On December 16, 1997, Air Canada Flight 646 Bombardier Canadair CRJ-100 crashed on a go-around at Greater Fredericton Airport in Fredericton, New Brunswick. No fatalities were reported.
On June 22, 2003, a Brit Air flight from Nantes to Brest, France crashed 2.3 miles short and 0.3 miles to the left of the runway when attempting a landing at Brest's airport. The aircraft's captain was the sole fatality.
On October 14, 2004, Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701, a CRJ-200 operated by Pinnacle Airlines, crashed on a repositioning flight from Little Rock, Arkansas to Minneapolis. The two pilots pushed the airplane to its service ceiling of 41,000 feet at much higher climb rates than the engines and airframe could handle. This caused both engines to flame out and possibily experience core lock. The aircraft crashed about fifteen minutes later, in sight of the diversion airport; both pilots were killed.
On November 24, 2004, a CRJ-200LR operating as China Eastern Airlines Flight 5210 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 53 on board as well as two on the ground.
On August 27, 2006, a CRJ-100ER operated by regional carrier Comair (Comair Flight 5191), crashed during takeoff from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. There were 49 fatalities, with the first officer being the only survivor.
On August 31, 2006, a CRJ-100 operated by Air Canada Jazz suffered a malfunction of the cockpit door, locking the captain out of the cockpit.<ref>"Canada pilot in toilet trip drama", BBC, August 31, 2006.</ref> The crew removed the door hinges, allowing the pilot to return to his seat.