Bombardier CRJ700

Bombardier CRJ700
Name	Bombardier CRJ700
Caption	CRJ700 in service
Role	Regional jet airliner
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace
First flight	2000
Introduced	2001
Status	In service

Bombardier CRJ700 The Bombardier CRJ700 is a Canadian-built regional jet family developed by Bombardier Aerospace as a stretched derivative of the Canadair Regional Jet series. Conceived to serve short- to medium-haul routes, the CRJ700 entered commercial service with operators across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Designed to fit between the CRJ100/200 and larger airliners, the type sought to offer improved capacity and range for carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and KLM.

Development and design

The CRJ700 program was initiated by Bombardier Aerospace to respond to market demand identified after the success of the Canadair Regional Jet series and contemporaries like the Embraer ERJ 145 and Fokker 70. Design work involved collaboration with suppliers including General Electric for engine development, drawing on partnerships similar to those between Rolls-Royce and major airframers. Certification efforts referenced standards from authorities such as Transport Canada, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The airframe incorporated lessons from programs like the Boeing 737 Next Generation and Airbus A320 family, emphasizing commonality and operational efficiency for regional operators such as Ryanair feeders and American Airlines regional affiliates.

Structurally, the CRJ700 used a stretched fuselage and modified wing from earlier Canadair types, with systems integration influenced by suppliers like Honeywell and Thales Group. Cabin layout advancements echoed interior trends set by the Bombardier Dash 8 series and ATR 72, while avionics suites reflected capabilities found in platforms such as the Gulfstream G500 and Dassault Falcon business jets. The development timeline paralleled other turn-of-the-century programs like the Embraer E-Jet series and the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Variants and modifications

The CRJ700 spawned several factory and aftermarket variants addressing capacity, range, and performance needs. Stretch and shrink derivatives were compared against offerings from Embraer and ATR, prompting conversions similar to those seen in Boeing 737-700 and Airbus A321 families. Major variants included higher-capacity configurations, enhanced-range models, and corporate or military conversions inspired by adaptations like the Lockheed C-130 modifications and business-jet versions of the Bombardier Global series. Operators implemented supplemental type certificates from firms like ST Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik to adapt interiors and systems for carriers such as British Airways and SAS.

Upgrades over the type's life included avionics modernization to standards used by Honeywell and Rockwell Collins platforms, cabin refurbishments adopting LED lighting trends pioneered by Airbus and Boeing, and performance tweaks comparable to those applied to the ATR fleet by companies like AAR Corporation.

Technical specifications

Typical CRJ700 specifications reflect its role as a regional jet with seating for approximately 66–78 passengers in mixed-class layouts, paralleling capacities of the Embraer E170 and Fokker 70. Powerplants were sourced from manufacturers such as General Electric and featured nacelle and thrust characteristics studied alongside models from Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce. The aircraft's maximum range and payload figures were marketed to compete with the Bombardier Challenger and Dassault Falcon business jets for corporate missions, while flight envelope and performance were validated in certification processes akin to those for the Boeing 717 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 families.

Avionics suites integrated navigation, communication, and flight-control systems from suppliers including Honeywell, Thales Group, and Rockwell Collins, offering capabilities comparable to contemporaries like the Embraer ERJ and Gulfstream series. Structural materials and manufacturing methods reflected practices used in programs such as the Boeing 787 for advanced composites and the Airbus A350 development for system architecture, though applied at regional-jet scale.

Operational history

Since entry into service in the early 2000s, the CRJ700 has served regional networks for major global carriers including Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as low-cost and regional specialists like Ryanair affiliates and SkyWest Airlines. Deployment patterns mirrored hub-and-spoke models established by carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa. Routes often connected secondary airports and fed long-haul operations similar to strategies used by Iberia and Finnair.

The CRJ700 saw competition from the Embraer E-Jet family and later replacements by Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 variants in several fleets, paralleling fleet renewal trends exemplified by Delta and United modernization programs. Leasing companies like Avolon, GECAS, and AirLease Corporation managed many aircraft placements, mirroring asset flows seen with GE Capital Aviation Services in global markets.

Operators and deployments

Primary operators included regional subsidiaries and mainline carriers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Notable operators comprised SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airways, Air Canada Express, Lufthansa CityLine, and KLM Cityhopper, with deployments reflecting similar patterns to those of the Embraer E175 and Bombardier Q400 in regional markets. Military and government adaptations saw interest from organizations akin to Royal Canadian Air Force and various civil government fleets, paralleling conversions of types like the Boeing 737 for VIP transport.

Leasing firms and lessors such as Doric Leasing and SMBC Aviation Capital facilitated international transfers to carriers including Cathay Dragon and XiamenAir, echoing global redistribution trends observed for the Boeing 737-800.

Accidents and incidents

Like many commercial types, the CRJ700 has been involved in accidents and incidents investigated by authorities such as the National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Investigations often referenced safety protocols and findings comparable to those in inquiries involving the Airbus A320 family or the Boeing 737 series. Outcomes influenced operational procedures and training programs at airlines including Delta, United, and Air France, and informed regulatory advisories issued by bodies like the FAA and Transport Canada.

Category:Regional jets