Saab - 340
The SAAB 340 started off as the SF340, a collaboration between SAAB-Scania of Sweden and Fairchild Industries of the USA. Each company was to be responsible for the design and production of airframe components with the sales and marketing function shared. Final assembly of the aircraft was to take place in Sweden with component production in the US based at Chantilly, Virginia. In November 1985 Saab-Scania took control of the program with Fairchild remaining a sub-contractor.
The aircraft was defined as a low wing, twin turboprop, thirty four seats, pressurised regional airliner which could offer passengers a perception of a seamless transfer from larger jet aircraft at airline hubs, to a regional airliner with comparable comfort and amenities. The 340 was designed to make extensive use of composite materials and adhesive bonding in the structure. The airframe was designed for a fatigue life of 45, 000 hrs and 90,000 cycles. The initial production model was the 340A which was delivered to Crossair on 6/6/84, and who received thirty four aircraft including nineteen of the later 340B model. One hundred and fifty six 340As were built production transferring to the 340B model in 1989. Primarily the 340B featured a change to CT7-9B engine which produced an additional 14.5% power at take off, and allowed; an increase in MTOW to 13151 kg, a 30m reduction in take off length at that weight and 22 kmh increase in maximum cruise speed. The first 340B was delivered to Metroflight of the USA on 12/4/89 and the last to Japan Air Commuter on 3/9/99. In all two hundred and twelve 340Bs were produced and production continued with the 340B + which featured a revised interior with increased overhead baggage space and active noise suppression. The last of eighty 340B+ was delivered to Hokkaido Air System on 30/8/1999. Production of the 340 ended in 1999 a total of four hundred and fifty six aircraft having been delivered including six AEW aircraft for Sweden and two SAR aircraft for Japan. The largest operator of the 340 in September 2005 was American Eagle Airlines with seventy nine aircraft of which twenty five were active and the total active number of 340s was three hundred and thirty three,
