Bombardier Aerospace Launches CRJ900 Series - New CRJ
Family Member to Join Fleet in Late 2002
FARNBOROUGH, UK--JULY 24, 2000-- Bombardier Aerospace today formally launched the
newest member of its pioneering CRJ* family of regional jet
airliners, the 86-passenger CRJ900* Series, at the start of this
year's edition of the biennial classic airshow.
Michael Graff, president and chief operating officer of Bombardier
Aerospace said at the launch, "With today's announcement to launch
the CRJ900 Series, we have again demonstrated our leadership of
the market we created with the launch of the original,
50-passenger CRJ, in 1989.
"Like the original CRJ, and the 70-passenger CRJ700* Series which
will enter service within a few months, the CRJ900 Series is right
for the market, first to the market and the benchmark which others
will seek to emulate," he added.
"On its own, the CRJ900 will offer excellent operating economics,"
Mr. Graff continued. "In combination with the established members
of the CRJ product family, the CRJ900 capitalizes on extensive
fleet commonality in crew qualification, spares and maintenance to
deliver unmatched operational flexibility and a
multi-million-dollar advantage over multiple-manufacturer fleets."
Brit Air of France has ordered 4 and optioned 8 CRJ900 aircraft.
Tyrolean Airways of Austria has signed a Letter of Agreement for
12 CRJ900, while Air Nostrum of Spain has signed a Letter of
Agreement covering 8 aircraft. In addition, there is the
previously announced order for 10 aircraft plus 20 options from GE
Capital Aviation Services. Based on the list price of US$29
million (Cdn.$40.6 billion), the firm orders value is almost
US$1.0 billion (Cdn.$1.4 billion).
The CRJ900 Series program schedule calls for first flight in the
first half of 2001, leading to initial type certification during
the third quarter of 2002 and first customer delivery in the
fourth quarter of 2002.
CRJ900 program represents an investment of about 200 million Cdn.
The program will also produce about 1000 jobs in Montreal and
about 400 jobs in Belfast. Montreal will build the wings, cockpit
and fairings, and carry out final assembly. Belfast will build the
remaining fuselage sections and the engine nacelles.
Minimal-change for maximum benefit
The main characteristics of the CRJ900 Series aircraft include
baseline seating for 86 passengers in a four-abreast, 31-inch
(78.8 cm) seat pitch configuration. Lavatories forward and aft
are standard, as is a five-cart galley. The cabin has been
arranged to permit different service zones, and it incorporates
the enhanced-comfort, ergonomic design of the CRJ700 Series
aircraft, with wide bin separation for extra head and shoulder
room. The bins accommodate standard roller bags. Versions of the
CRJ900 with two-class seating are planned.
The changes incorporated in the CRJ900, compared to the CRJ700,
include: fuselage plugs of 90 inches (2.29 metres) forward and 62
inches (1.57 metres) aft; a strengthened wing incorporating the
same planform as the CRJ700; an added pair of overwing emergency
exits; strengthened main landing gear, and upgraded wheels and
brakes; and, the use of General Electric CF34-8C5 engines. The
-8C5 engine-to be certificated in the second quarter of 2002-is a
further advanced derivative of the engine employed on the other
CRJ aircraft, as well as Bombardier's Challenger 604 widebody
business jet. Compared to the model aboard the CRJ700 Series, the
new engine delivers about five per cent more thrust.
The aircraft will be offered in two versions, the standard
aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 80,500 pounds (36,514
kg) and a 1,500-nautical mile (2,778 km) range and a CRJ900ER with
a maximum takeoff weight of 82,500 pounds (37, 421 kg, or 36,995
kg for European operations), with a maximum, full-passenger range
of 1,732 nautical miles (3,208 km).
The availability of the two versions will enable operators to
select a model to minimize landing fee expenses and optimize
range.
Cash costs are king
The CRJ900 will lower available seat mile (ASM) costs by 20 per
cent over the CRJ200. With the 50-passenger CRJ200 and the
70-passenger CRJ700, Bombardier has the capability to offer a
single family of aircraft from 50 to 90 seats.
The CRJ900 Series features extensive commonality with the CRJ700
Series aircraft, allowing Bombardier Aerospace to minimize the
operator's cash operating costs.
According to studies by Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft,
the biggest cost reduction opportunities are found in flight
crews, spares and maintenance. In a fleet of 10 CRJ700 and 10
CRJ900 aircraft, the benefits of commonality amount to $33.55
million, or $3.36 million per CRJ900. Crew savings amount to 60
per cent, while spares and maintenance savings are almost equal,
at 21 and 19 per cent, respectively.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the leading
business, regional and amphibious aircraft manufacturer. With
full design and production capabilities in three countries, it
offers the most comprehensive families of turboprop and regional
jet aircraft and the widest range of business jets. It also
provides the Flexjet fractional business aircraft ownership
program, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot
training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset
management. The Corporation employs 56,000 people in 12 countries
in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of
its revenues are generated outside Canada. Bombardier's revenues
for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2000, totalled Cdn.$13.6
billion.
(R) Registered trademark of Bombardier Inc.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc. |
