Bombardier CRJ series

Bombardier CRJ series
Mogami Kariya · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Bombardier CRJ series
Type	Regional jet
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace
Firstflight	1991
Introduced	1992
Status	In service / retired

Bombardier CRJ series The Bombardier CRJ series is a family of twin-engine regional jet airliners developed by Bombardier Aerospace from the Canadair Challenger business jet. The family served regional carriers worldwide and influenced regional airline network planning, fleet commonality, and short-haul route development. The program spanned the 1990s–2010s and intersected with major airlines, leasing companies, and certification authorities.

Development and Design

The CRJ program originated when Bombardier Aerospace acquired Canadair and adapted the Canadair Challenger 600 for commercial service, leveraging experience from the Aerospace industry supply chain and collaboration with suppliers in Montreal and Toronto. Certification work involved the Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and national authorities in Canada. Design priorities included range and economics for the networks of carriers such as Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and regional partners like SkyWest Airlines and Mesa Airlines. The airframe retained a low-wing configuration and supercritical wing sections influenced by research at institutions like NASA, while systems engineering incorporated avionics suites from firms such as Honeywell and Rockwell Collins. Engines were sourced from manufacturers including General Electric and Pratt & Whitney Canada, with nacelle and thrust requirements coordinated with aerodynamicists from universities and centres such as the National Research Council Canada. Structural integrity testing followed standards used in programs like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families, with fatigue and damage-tolerance programs guided by regulations stemming from historical incidents like those investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

Variants

CRJ variants evolved to meet differing capacity and range needs, paralleling developments in regional fleets of carriers including Japan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, and British Airways regional divisions. Major variants included smaller models competing with types operated by Embraer and larger stretched versions aimed at replacement of turboprops used by airlines such as Rex Airlines and Horizon Air. Variant differences addressed seating configurations, maximum takeoff weight, avionics options, and auxiliary power systems from suppliers like Hamilton Sundstrand. Certification of stretched variants required extended flight testing at sites used by programs like the Lockheed Martin F-35 testing ranges and coordination with international airworthiness bodies such as the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Operational History

Operational introduction saw CRJ aircraft integrated into hub-and-spoke systems managed by legacy carriers and regional partners, affecting route planning at major hubs like Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and London Heathrow Airport. Deployment patterns mirrored trends in regional capacity replacement driven by fleet decisions at legacy carriers including US Airways and Continental Airlines. Maintenance and overhaul programs involved maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations such as Lufthansa Technik and GE Aviation's services, while aftermarket support featured leasing from companies like GE Capital Aviation Services and Avolon. Over time, shifts to newer regional jets and narrowbodies from manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing influenced retirement rates, with cargo conversions and corporate usage extending service lives in some fleets.

Operators and Use

Primary operators included regional subsidiaries and independent regional carriers serving major airlines—examples being SkyWest Airlines, Republic Airways, Mesa Airlines, Envoy Air, and PSA Airlines—as well as flag carriers and low-cost carriers in markets such as Japan, China, Europe, and Africa. Governments and armed forces utilized converted airframes for transport and training missions in nations like Canada, United States, and others. Leasing firms including AerCap and SMBC Aviation Capital played pivotal roles in secondary-market transfers among operators such as WestJet Encore and KLM Cityhopper. Corporate and VIP conversions found operators among multinational corporations and state entities represented in cities like New York City, Beijing, and London.

Aircraft Specifications

Typical specifications varied by model but commonly listed seating for 50–100 passengers comparable to contemporaries operated by Embraer regional models and turboprops formerly used by carriers like Horizon Air. Performance figures included cruise speeds near those of multiple regional types, ranges adequate for typical sector lengths between major hubs and spoke airports such as Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Denver International Airport, and service ceilings used in airline operations regulated by authorities like the FAA and Transport Canada. Avionics and systems were compatible with air traffic management procedures overseen by Eurocontrol and Nav Canada, while ground operations interfaced with airport operators at facilities like Los Angeles International Airport.

Incidents and Safety Record

The CRJ family experienced incidents and accidents investigated by national bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Board, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and the AAIB in the United Kingdom. Investigations cited factors including maintenance procedures at MROs, crew resource management issues linked to recommendations by organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization, and operational pressures faced by regional carriers in markets overseen by authorities such as the Civil Aviation Authority in various countries. Safety improvements resulted from airworthiness directives issued in coordination with certification authorities, fleet modifications by manufacturers and operators, and training revisions influenced by professional associations like the Air Line Pilots Association.

Category:Bombardier aircraft