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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0427.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT Bombardier gives go-ahead to CRJ-X GRAHAM WARWICK/ATLANTA BOMBARDIER'S BOARD has approved the launch of the CRJ-X stretched, 70-seat deriva tive of the Canadair Regional Jet. Bombardier's Regional Aircraft division says that it has firm orders for the CRJ-X from "at least one" customer, although the manufac turer declines to give details. The first flight is planned for March 1999, with certification and first deliveries scheduled for September 2000. The target price is $22-25 million, compared with around $20 million for the 50-seat Regional Jet. Two dimensionally identical versions are offered: an A model with 70 seats and a B model with 78 seats. The 32,OOOkg stan dard gross weight gives a 3,150km (1,700nm) range, while the option al increased gross weight of 34,000kg gives a range of 3,760km. The CRJ-X will be assembled at the Canadair plant in Montreal, alongside the 50-seat Regional Jet and Challenger business jet. Bombardier has received a C$87 million ($65 million) loan from the Canadian Government's Tech nology Partnerships Programme to support CRJ-X development (Flight International, 30 October-5 November, 1996, P20). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, already a risk-sharing partner on Bombardier's de Havilland Dash 8- 400 and Global Express, is believed to be negotiating to take a major stake in the CRJ-X. The Canadian company says that talks with partners have not yet been finalised. Bombardier UK subsidiary Shorts, in Northern Ire- and, has already been selected to design and manufacture the for ward and centre fuselage and the engine nacelles. The CRJ-X fuselage has been stretched by 4.72m, the wingspan increased by 1.83m by inserting a root plug, leading-edge high-lift devices added and the horizontal tail enlarged. The aircraft is powered by the - 8C1 growth version of the Re gional Jet's General Electric CF34 turbofan, which provides 57kN (12,6701b) of take-off thrust. A higher thrust level, of 61kN, utilis ing automatic power reserve, will be flat rated to ISA+15°C. • Boeing regains popularity in China PAUL LEWIS/SINGAPORE BOEING IS BEGINNING to enjoy a revival in the number of its passenger aircraft being ordered and leased by Chinese carriers, as political relations between Beijing and Washington continue to show signs of improvement. After a year in which Boeing recorded total sales of only three aircraft in China, the US manufac turer has announced its second order from a Chinese carrier in as many weeks. The latest order is from China Yunnan Airlines for two Boeing 737-300s, valued at $68 million. On 9 January, flag carrier Air China finalised a long-awaited order for two more Boeing 747-400s. The aircraft originally formed part of larger order for five 747s and ten 777s which was shelved because of growing tension with the USA. Air China was finally forced to order the first three 747s in July 1996, or risk a delay in deliveries of the aircraft. Meanwhile, Xinjiang Airlines has signed a letter of intent with International Lease Finance to lease a Boeing 757 from November and has dispatched personnel to Beijing for training. It is still look ing for another two 757s for deliv ery this year as part of a longer-term plan to acquire up to 15 757s and 737s, along with a small number of AI(R) ATR 72s. (Flight International, 4-10 Dec ember, 1996). Other recently con cluded leasing deals include three 737-300s from General Electric capital for delivery to China General Aviation in May, June and July, while Boullioun Aviation Services has signed an agreement to lease three 737-300/ 400s to China Xinhua Airlines. Xiamen Airlines and China Southwest Airlines are also trying to find additional aircraft available for lease this year, with the former Iookingfortwo737-500sanda757 and the latter wanting up to three 7 3 7-3 00s as early as May. Hainan Airlines chairman Chen Feng, in the meantime, has con firmed plans for the carrier to be the first Chinese airline to pur chase the next-generation 737. It already has an agreement in place to order three 737-800s, with options for three more. The deal, along with an order for four 737-400s and three 767s is still waiting for Government approval (Flight International, 30 October -5 November, 1996). Further north, Zhejiang Airlines and China Northwest Airlines are each trying to lease two Airbus Industrie A3 20s in advance of new- aircraft being delivered in 1998. General Electric Capital and Singapore Aircraft Leasing En terprise are thought to have have been approached, although the lat ter does not take delivery of its own A320s until 1998. • VLM Fokker 50s could soon be carrying Sabena passengers to London City Sabena discusses outsourcing more of its loss-making routes SABENA IS seeking to extend its policy of outsourcing loss-mak ing routes to low-cost operators, with its Antwerp, Belgium, to London, UK, services expected to be taken over on 1 April by VLM. The Antwerp-based regional already operates four daily return flights between Antwerp and London City Airport with its Fokker 50s, while Sabena serves London Heathrow^ Airport from Antwerp twice daily, using a de Havilland Dash 8-300 which is wet-leased from Schreiner Airways of the Netherlands. While the Sabena route is losing money and.has seen a continuous drop in traffic since the opening of Eurotunnel rail-link to Brussels, VLM has been more successful in defending itself against the high speed train. Its London City route is used mainly by full-fare paying businessmen on day-return flights to the City of London. Sabena is now negotiating a deal with VLM which would see it drop its Antwerp-London Heathrow service, and instead buy seats on the VLM flights to London City. The move would follow Sabena's simi lar agreement in 1996 for the Brussels-Heathrow service with Virgin Express. Sabena is now dis cussing with Virgin Express an extension to the agreement which could see the carrier taking over Sabena's services to Barcelona, Madrid and Paris. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 29 January - 4 February 1997 9
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