Bombardier CRJ900 Regional Jet, Canada

The Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet, a stretched derivative of the CRJ700 was announced in 1999. Assembly of the first production aircraft was started in 2001.

The aircraft completed its first flight on 21 February 2001 at Montreal's Mirabel International Airport. In February 2003, the first aircraft was delivered to launch customer, Mesa Airlines, which has placed firm orders for 25 aircraft. Total orders for the CRJ900 are over 248 aircraft, of which, over 145 have been delivered.

The aircraft has extensive commonality with other members of the CRJ family: the CRJ900 has Common Crew Qualification (CCQ) with the CRJ200 and CRJ700, as well as a reconfigurable flight simulator, common maintenance and training procedures, spares and ground support equipment. Total deliveries, orders and options for the CRJ family are over 1,660 aircraft. The 1,500th aircraft of the CRJ family was delivered in March 2008.

The 86-seat CRJ900 is a stretched variant of the 70-seat CRJ700 with two fuselage plugs, one forward and one aft of the centre section. Compared to the CRJ700, the CRJ900 has 5% higher thrust engines, strengthened main landing gear, upgraded wheels and brakes, a strengthened wing, increased volume in the forward underfloor baggage hold, an additional underfloor baggage door and two additional overwing exits.

For fast airport turnaround, an additional service door has been placed at the aft starboard side of the fuselage providing access to aircraft cleaning and galley replenishment crew, while passengers are disembarking and embarking through the forward passenger door.

In March 2005, Bombardier announced that it has upgraded the CRJ900 by redesigning the wing-tip and winglet and optimising the wing leading edge devices to provide lower lift / drag ratio and reduced approach speeds. This results in improved payload range, improved take-off and landing performance and lower fuel costs.

In May 2005, Bombardier launched the Challenger 890, a corporate shuttle based on the CRJ900. The Challenger 890 accommodates 90 passengers in standard cabin, 52 in split cabin and 52 in deluxe cabin configuration. The aircraft entered service in February 2008, with Suncor Energy Inc of Calgary, Canada.

In May 2007, Bombardier announced the CRJ NextGen family aircraft, which have new cabin interiors, including larger passenger windows, more baggage space and LED lighting.

There is also increased use of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) composites in the aircraft construction with reduced fuel consumption.

The first NextGen aircraft, the 75 to 90-seat CRJ900 NextGen, entered service with Northwest Airlines in June 2007. The 66 to 68-seat CRJ700 NextGen is scheduled to enter service in 2008 and the 86 to 100-seat CRJ1000 NextGen in 2009.

VARIANTS

The CRJ900 has a range of 2,774km. Bombardier has also introduced a long-range version, CRJ900LR, which will have a range with a full passenger load of 3,385km, taking off from a 1,767m runway.

The CRJ900ER European has been designed for services to European airports. The aircraft has a reduced maximum take-off weight (36,995kg as compared to 37,421kg for the CRJ900ER) to minimise the weight sensitive charges at European airports.

FLIGHT DECK

The two-pilot flight deck is fitted with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 six-tube Electronic Flight and Information System (EFIS) and an Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS). The instrument panel has six 127mm x 178mm (5in x 7in) cathode ray tube displays.

The aircraft is equipped with a Flight Dynamics HGS 2000 head up display and guidance system, a Rockwell Collins Automatic Heading Reference System (AHRS), Terrain Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and a Rockwell Collins digital weather radar. The integrated avionics processor integrates the autopilot and flight management systems.

The windscreen and cockpit side windows are fitted with electric de-icing systems.

CABIN

The fuselage is of semi monocoque design. The main cabin, by C & D Interiors, is nearly 24.7m in length with a centre-line width of 2.57m and can seat up to 90 passengers. Standard seating is for 86 passengers with seats at 31in pitch (78.7cm) in a four-abreast configuration. Other interior layouts include two-class interiors with mixed seat pitch. The aircraft's lighting is supplied by Hella Aerospace GmbH.

The rear baggage compartment and underfloor baggage compartment provide a total baggage space of 25.57m³. The cabins are air-conditioned with a Liebherr air management system. GKN manufacture the tailcone and doors.

ENGINES

The aircraft is powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines fitted with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). They provide 58.4kN thrust at take-off and 63.3kN thrust with auto power reserve. The engine nacelles, supplied by Bombardier Aerospace (Shorts Brothers) of Belfast, are mounted on the sides of the rear section of the fuselage.

There are two integral wing fuel tanks with a fuel capacity of 11,148l. The Intertechnique fuel management system is fitted with Ratier-Figeac controls. The maximum usable fuel load is 8,822kg.

A Honeywell auxiliary power unit is installed in the tailcone. Electrical power is provided by a Hamilton Standard electrical generator with two integrated drive generators providing 40kVA.

LANDING GEAR

The aircraft is fitted with Menasco Aerospace retractable tricycle type landing gear. The CRJ900 landing gear is strengthened and is fitted with upgraded wheels and brakes compared to the CRJ700 in order to be compatible with the higher operating weights.

SUPPORT

The Regional Aircraft division of Bombardier Aerospace, based in Toronto, Ontario, is responsible for marketing, sales, contracts and product support of the CRJ Series jet airliners.

The company's training facilities include the Bombardier Aerospace Training Centre in Montreal and a facility in Berlin, Germany, operated under agreement between Lufthansa, CAE and Bombardier Aerospace.