Avro RJ

Avro RJ
BAE Systems · Public domain · source
Name	Avro RJ
Role	Regional jet
Manufacturer	British Aerospace
First flight	1991
Introduced	1994
Status	In service (limited)
Primary users	Various airlines

Avro RJ is a family of four-engined regional jet airliners derived from the British Aerospace 146. Developed in the late 1980s and produced through the 1990s, the type served short-haul routes for major carriers and regional operators worldwide. The RJ series combined the high-lift wing and quiet operation suitable for noise-restricted airports with modern avionics and updated powerplants, seeing service with European, North American, African, Asian, and Oceanian operators.

Development and design

The RJ program was undertaken by British Aerospace as part of product evolution following the British Aerospace 146 lineage and influenced by corporate strategy at BAe Systems and market forecasts from International Air Transport Association. Design work involved suppliers such as Rolls-Royce for engines, Honeywell for avionics, and airframe partners including Filton works and the Hatfield Aerodrome design teams. The configuration retained the high-mounted wing, T-tail empennage, and four turbofan installation on short pylons, while introducing uprated Lycoming-sized nacelles and modernized flight decks compatible with certification agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), the Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Noise and emissions considerations were influenced by standards set during discussions at the Chicago Convention and recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Aerodynamic refinements drew on research from Royal Aircraft Establishment archives and wind tunnel studies at National Aeronautical Establishment (Canada), while structural improvements used alloys specified by the British Standards Institution and suppliers such as Goodrich Corporation and Tata Steel. Cabin interior choices reflected input from airline customers including British Airways, Swissair, Lufthansa, and regional carriers like Cityjet and Rex Airlines; interior fit options were coordinated through firms like Recaro and Collins Aerospace. Certification testing included participation by homologation teams from Transport Canada and regulatory delegations from Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Variants

The family encompassed multiple subtypes evolved from the BAe 146 derivatives and marketed under RJ designations aligned with seating and range: RJ70, RJ85, RJ100 among others. Each variant differed in fuselage length, maximum takeoff weight certified by agencies such as the International Air Transport Association and optional equipment catalogs offered in collaboration with UTC Aerospace Systems. Proposed freighter and corporate versions were evaluated by consultants from AerCap and GECAS, while military and special mission proposals engaged organizations like Royal Air Force and civil surveillance units affiliated with Fraser Institute studies. Upgrade packages, including glass cockpit retrofits, were supplied by Rockwell Collins and Thales Group, enabling operators to meet avionics mandates from European Union Aviation Safety Agency directives and national regulators.

Operational history

Entry into airline service featured launch customers in Europe and Australasia; key operators included British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Finnair, Iberia Regional, Ansett Australia, and QantasLink. The RJ family was employed on noise-sensitive routes into airports such as London Heathrow, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Zurich Airport, and Sydney Airport where curfew and noise abatement rules overseen by municipal authorities impacted scheduling. Leasing companies like Avolon and ILFC facilitated global distribution to carriers in United States, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, and India. Routes often connected to hub-and-spoke networks involving airlines like Air France, KLM, Iberia, and Lufthansa CityLine and were integrated into alliances including Oneworld and Star Alliance codeshare operations. Cargo conversions and combi layouts were trialed by independent operators and freight integrators such as FedEx and UPS subsidiaries, with modifications overseen by maintenance organizations like those certified under EASA Part-145.

Technical specifications

Typical specifications varied by variant but common technical attributes included high-lift slotted flaps, leading-edge devices developed in consultation with Rolls-Royce aerodynamicists, and four rear-mounted turbofan engines certified under ICAO noise chapters. Avionics suites incorporated systems from Honeywell, Thales Group, and Garmin options for retrofit, with flight management integration supporting procedures published by Jeppesen and navigation references to Instrument Flight Rules charts from national aeronautical information publications such as those issued by Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada Civil Aviation. Structural components used fasteners and subsystems from Boeing-approved supply chains and component testing followed standards from Society of Automotive Engineers committees and International Organization for Standardization guidelines.

Operators

Major operators historically included British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Cityjet, SkyTeam partners acting regionally, and government and military fleets such as units within the Royal Air Force for transport tasks. Leasing lessors like Air Lease Corporation, Avolon, and GECAS placed airframes with airlines across continents including carriers in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Nigeria, and Philippines. Regional networks linking hubs such as Frankfurt Airport, Madrid Barajas Airport, Copenhagen Airport, and Oslo Gardermoen utilized the type for short sectors, with secondary markets serving charter and ACMI operators including Hi Fly and Titan Airways.

Incidents and safety record

The type experienced several notable incidents and accidents involving operators and airports such as London City Airport, London Stansted Airport, Zurich Airport, and Glasgow Airport. Investigations were conducted by agencies including the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the National Transportation Safety Board, and national aviation authorities in affected states. Safety analyses referenced contributory factors identified in reports by Boeing safety review panels and independent consultants from Flight Safety Foundation; resultant airworthiness directives and service bulletins were issued in coordination with EASA and OEM support organizations. Operational risk management practices were updated industry-wide with inputs from International Air Transport Association safety frameworks and training standards promulgated by Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)-approved training centers.

Category:British civil aircraft