CRJ Series

CRJ Series
Mogami Kariya · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	CRJ Series
Type	Regional jet family
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; later divisions under MHI and Bombardier Inc.
First flight	1991
Introduced	1992
Status	Retired from production (passenger); freighter and business conversion programs remain

CRJ Series

The CRJ Series is a family of regional jet airliners originally developed by Bombardier Aerospace and later influenced by programs associated with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, designed to serve short-haul routes between Toronto Pearson International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, London City Airport, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and other regional hubs. It was introduced into service following development milestones that involved suppliers such as General Electric, Rolls-Royce, and component partners including Honeywell International Inc., targeting operators like Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Lufthansa Regional, and KLM Cityhopper.

Design and Development

The family traces engineering lineage to concepts validated in flight test programs and certification processes overseen by authorities such as Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration. Early design decisions drew on experience from manufacturers including Bombardier Inc. and assembly techniques honed at plants associated with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and component testbeds from General Electric and Pratt & Whitney engine suppliers. Structural layout emphasized a low-wing monoplane with aft-mounted turbofan engines supplied by makers linked to Rolls-Royce and CFM International; avionics suites were integrated from systems by Honeywell International Inc. and Rockwell Collins. Certification campaigns engaged agencies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and regulatory frameworks derived from standards observed by Transport Canada Civil Aviation.

Variants and Specifications

The family expanded into multiple variants with differing capacities, ranges, and performance envelopes to match fleet plans for carriers such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines (codeshare partners), Air France, and British Airways. Key model derivatives included shorter-capacity types suitable for operations at constrained fields such as London City Airport and longer-range stretched versions used on trans-regional sectors between Toronto Pearson International Airport and secondary cities. Performance parameters—maximum takeoff weight, range, passenger seating—were compared in procurement evaluations alongside competitors from Embraer and manufacturing peers like Fokker and Saab AB. Auxiliary specifications covered emergency systems certified under standards from International Civil Aviation Organization and maintenance regimes aligned with manuals from Airworthiness Directives issued by authorities including the Federal Aviation Administration.

Operational History

Operators deployed the jets across networks spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Routes linked metropolitan centers such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Madrid, Rome, and regional gateways including Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. Airline alliances and commercial strategies by groups like Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam influenced fleet assignments and frequency planning. Fleet retirements and secondary-market transfers involved leasing companies such as AerCap and Boeing Capital Corporation; passenger-to-freighter conversions and corporate shuttle adaptations followed precedents set by conversions involving organizations like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Operators and Airline Use

Major operators included national and regional carriers: Air Canada Jazz, SkyWest Airlines, Horizon Air, Lufthansa CityLine, Korean Air, Japan Airlines (JAL), and numerous regional affiliates for legacy carriers such as American Eagle Airlines and Delta Connection. Use cases spanned high-frequency short hops, thin-dense city pairs, and sector-replacement roles previously served by turboprop types like those made by De Havilland Canada and ATR. Leasing firms, maintenance providers like Lufthansa Technik, and overhaul facilities at hubs such as Frankfurt Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport supported in-service reliability and spares provisioning.

Accidents and Incidents

The type experienced incidents investigated by safety authorities including National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Investigations referenced human factors reported by organizations such as International Air Transport Association and procedural recommendations aligned with standards from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Accident reports led to airworthiness directives and operational changes implemented by carriers including Air France and KLM Cityhopper as well as by regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration.

Economic and Market Impact

The family influenced regional aviation economics, shaping route economics for carriers like Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, and regional affiliates across markets including United States and European Union member states. It altered fleet planning and procurement strategies in competition with manufacturers such as Embraer and ATR, affecting secondary markets served by leasing companies like Aviation Capital Group and GE Capital Aviation Services. Program lifecycle decisions by corporations such as Bombardier Inc. and later industrial stakeholders including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had implications for supply chains involving General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell International Inc., and maintenance ecosystems centered at facilities like Lufthansa Technik.

Category:Regional airliners