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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2454.PDF
Directory: world airliners JETS TO THE FORE Jets have tightened their grip on the regional market, as Chinese and Russian developments move ahead and dormant programmes are revived MICHAEL PHELAN / LONDON DATA COMPILED BY DAVE REYNOLDS AND KELLEY MALCHER his year regional jets have once again dominated over their turboprop rivals, with two new programme launches, three service entries, and programmes thought to be dead or struggling hav ing their fortunes revived. Russia finally threw its weight behind a single regional jet programme, awarding Rbl.5 billion ($50 million) in March to the Sukhoi-led Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) programme. Development immediately gathered pace, with Boeing firming up its advisory role involvement and an array of supplier selections being announced, most notably Snecma/NPO Saturn for the engines. With a first flight set for 2006, the RRJ consortium is hoping for 600 sales by 2020, and appears to be breaking free from the cash-strapped "backbumer" status that so often blights Russian aircraft projects. Meanwhile, China managed formally to launch its own regional jet project, the AVIC I Commercial Aircraft ARJ21, for which Boeing also acts as a consultant. Unveiled in 2001, the initial 72- to 79-seat variant has accrued 35 orders from Chinese carriers, and is due to fly in 2006. China hopes the enormous domestic market prospects could yield sales of 500 or more aircraft. Bombardier's CRJ900 entered service in January with launch customer Mesa Air Group, while Airbus saw its CFM56-powered A318 enter service with Frontier Airlines in August. Finally, Alitalia and US Airways should receive the first Embraer 170s in November. Delivery of the A318 rounds out Airbus's single family developments for now, with Air France gaining the distinction of operating all four members of the family. But Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engine development delays have resulted in only one airline retaining orders for the P&W-powered option. Embraer overcame difficulties in its flight-test programme to secure important orders from JetBlue and US Airways, the latter shared with Bombardier's CRJ700 family. Software problems with the Honeywell Primus Epic integrated avionics suite delayed service entry by about three months, and original launch customer Swiss halved and delayed its order. The troubled Boeing 717 was close to the axe late last year as orders dwindled and the manu facturer pondered its product line, but its deci sion to stick by the aircraft through hard times has led to renewed interest in a stretched vari ant. The -300X is being targeted at a joint Star Alliance requirement for about 100 regional jets. The even more beleaguered Fairchild Dornier jets were also given a major boost, as new investment promises to revive the fortunes of at least some of the lines. The 328JET is being mar keted by Avcraft Aerospace, while Chinese con glomerate D'Long bought the 728 programme and, under the name of Fairchild Dornier Aerolndustries, has restarted ground testing of the initial aircraft. Development activity was quiet on the turbo prop side, with most major work taking place in Russia. The production rate of the Antonov An-140 is being ramped up in response to strong sales activity, with deliveries from the three pro duction sites expected to more than treble over the next two years. Meanwhile, the Ilyushin I1-112VT was selected in May as the Russian air force's new airlifter, a requirement estimated at 100-120 aircraft by 2010. Bombardier's Dash 8 Q400 programme recov ered from a temporary production halt at the end of 2002 and renewed customer criticism at the beginning of this year, with fresh orders from Flybe and Regional Airlines Holdings and an in-service upgrade package that improved dispatch reliability. • The fourth and smallest Airbus single-aisle type, the A318, entered service in July. Air France is unique in operating all four variants of the family 34 28 OCTOBER - 3 NOVEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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