Flybe Bombardier Q400

Régional ERJ 145 operating for Air France

A regional airliner is a small airliner designed to fly between 35 and 100 passengers from point to point, generally within one country. This class of airliner are typically flown by the regional airline divisions of the larger international airlines, although they perform cargo duty and even transport troops for government militaries. The regional jet (RJ) is a jet-engined aircraft of the same class that has become the aircraft of choice for most domestic operations. Bombardier (De Havilland Canada) Dash 8 (G-JEDK) landing at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... Bombardier (De Havilland Canada) Dash 8 (G-JEDK) landing at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... Flybe is a British airline based at Exeter Airport, England. ... A twin-turbo DHC-8 of Flybe on the ground at Bristol Airport, Bristol, England The de Havilland Canada DHC-8, popularly the Dash 8, is a series of twin-turboprop airliners designed by de Havilland Canada in the early 1980s. ... Image File history File links Air France Embraer RJ 145 (F-GUBC) taking off from Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... Image File history File links Air France Embraer RJ 145 (F-GUBC) taking off from Bristol Airport, Bristol, England. ... Régional Embraer ERJ 145 Régional Embraer ERJ 145 Régional (IATA: YS, ICAO: RAE, and Callsign: Regional Europe) is an airline owned by Air France which connects hubs at Paris, Lyon, Clermont, and Bordeaux to 45 airports in Europe. ... Air France (Compagnie Nationale Air France) is a subsidiary of Air France-KLM. Before its merger with KLM, it was the national airline of France, employing 71,654 people (as of March 2004). ... An Airbus A340 airliner operated by Air Jamaica An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft with the primary function of transporting paying passengers. ... Pretorian Guards, Roman Soldiers A military or military force generally refers to a permanent, professional and structured force of soldiers or guerrillas trained exclusively for the purpose of warfare. ... Jet aircraft are aircrafts with jet engines. ...

History

In the early days of aviation, most aircraft had a relatively short range so that all airlines were "regional" in nature. With the introduction of longer range aircraft, notably flying boats, these shorter range planes increasingly found their niche feeding the newer and longer range airliners by flying passengers to the airline hubs. Many of these smaller airlines were eventually bought by the larger flag carriers. Boeing 314 A flying boat is an aircraft that is designed to take off and land on water, in particular a type of seaplane which uses its fuselage as a floating hull (instead of pontoons mounted below the fuselage). ... An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. ... For other uses, see Flag carrier (disambiguation). ...

To keep these short routes economical, the airlines were generally unwilling to spend large amounts of money on new aircraft; they used what was available. Also, as new models slowly emerged, older aircraft were put into this service when they were replaced by progressively longer-range designs. In the immediate post-war era these were typically DC-3's, although even the De Havilland Dragon Rapide remained in service for some time. This "hand-me-down" process of supplying aircraft continued, with designs like the Convair 440, DC-6 and Vickers Viscount also serving in this role while the first jets were introduced. Douglas DC-3 VH-AES at Avalon in 2003. ... The de Havilland DH 89 Dragon Rapide was a successful British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s. ... A restored Convair 240 in Western Air Lines livery, at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. ... The Douglas DC-6 is an aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1959. ... The Viscount was a medium-range turboprop airliner introduced in 1953 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world. ...

Turboprop designs

By the mid-1950s, demand for even more economical designs led to the production of the first custom feederliners. These were almost always turboprops, which had fuel economy on par with piston engine designs, but had far lower maintenance costs. Often the time between engine overhaul periods was five times that of the best piston engines. Early examples of these designs include the Avro 748, Fokker F27 and Handley Page Dart Herald. SN Brussels Airlines Avro RJ85 regional jet A regional jet (RJ) is a small short-range jet aircraft that is intended to fly passengers from smaller airports to larger ones, thereby feeding the larger hubs with passengers. ... A schematic diagram showing the operation of a turboprop engine. ... Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. ... The Avro 748 was a small short-range turboprop airliner designed by Avro in the late 1950s as a replacement for the now-aged DC-3s then in widespread service as feederliners. ... The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. ... The Handley Page Herald was a 1950s British turboprop passenger aircraft. ...

These designs were so successful that it was many years before newer designs bettered them enough to make it worthwhile to develop. There were a few exceptions, generally tailored to more specific roles. For instance, the Handley Page Jetstream (first flight in 1968) was intended for fewer passengers at much higher speeds, displacing smaller designs like the Beechcraft Queen Air. The Fairchild/Swearingen Metro (developed from the original Queen Air through a number of stages) filled a similar niche. The Handley Page HP.137 Jetstream is a small twin turboprop airliner, with a pressurised fuselage, designed to meet the requirements of the United States feederliner and regional airline market. ... The Beechcraft Queen Air is a twin engined light aircraft produced by Beechcraft (now Raytheon) in several different versions from the sixties to the seventies. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ...

By the 1970s the first generation feederliners were starting to wear out, and a replacement program started. De Havilland Canada started this process with the introduction and first delivery of the Dash 7 in 1978, but this was tailored more to the short-range and STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) role than feederliners. They were considerably more successful with their Dash 8 in 1984, which had economic benefits over the earlier generation machines, and was faster and quieter as well. This sparked off the development of a number of similar designs, including the ATR 42, Saab 340 and Fokker F50. Consequently there were a relatively large number of aircraft offered by manufacturers in this sector of the market, pushing older 1950s designs from Fokker, Vickers and others into retirement. Due to the high level of competition, production of a number of these types ceased. In 2006 only the ATR 42/72 models and the Dash 8 remain in production. Saab exited the civil aviation market and wrote its debts off, while Daimler-Benz Aerospace "pulled the plug" on Dornier. de Havilland Canada was an innovative aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in Toronto, Ontario. ... The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly the Dash 7, is a turboprop powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... A Zenair CH701 STOL light aircraft Polish STOL light aircraft PZL-104M Wilga of Polish Border Guard at Radom Air Show in 2005. ... A DeHavilland DHC-8-102 belonging to Air Inuit at Cornwall Ontario, May 2005 The de Havilland Canada DHC-8, popularly the Dash 8, is a series of twin-turboprop airliners designed by de Havilland Canada in the early 1980s. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Categories: Stub | International airliners 1980-1989 ... Saab 340A of Aurigny Air Services. ... Fokker F50 VLM Airlines Fokker F50 The Fokker F50 was a small turboprop-powered airliner designed as a refinement of and successor to the highly successful Fokker Friendship. ... Fokkers first airplane, the Spin (1910) Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. ... Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 2004. ... For other uses, see Saab (disambiguation). ... Dornier may refer to Claudius Dornier, original founder of Dornier GmbH Lindauer DORNIER GmbH FairchildDornier Dornier Medtech [1], maker of medical equipment e. ...

Another reason for the downturn in the turboprop market was the introduction of the first regional jets. The first real example is the BAe 146, produced by BAE Systems. However, as this aircraft has four engines, it could not compete with twin-engined designs maintenance costs. This was addressed with the twin-engine Canadair Regional Jet, which became a best-seller and spawned the similar Embraer ERJ 145. These designs had the speed and range needed to compete with much larger designs like the Boeing 737, yet were smaller, allowing them to serve airports with shorter runways. Although not as economical as the turboprop, they could fill both the medium-range airliner and feederliner role, and were generally better liked by the passengers. Development of more cost-effective jet aircraft in the 1990s led to a significant decline in turboprop sales by the remaining manufacturers. The BAe 146 (also known as the Avro RJ) is a medium-sized commercial aircraft manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS. It carries its four jet engines on a high wing above the fuselage; not below, or at mid-fuselage, as on most conventional civilian aircraft. ... BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor,[3] the largest in Europe and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ... The Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) is a small Canadian airliner based originally on the Canadair Challenger business jet. ... Embraer 145 of the Brazilian police (Photo: Lindomar Cruz /ABr) Embraer ERJ 135 American Eagle ERJ 140 British Airways Citiexpress (Now BA Connect) ERJ 145 in British Airways utopia livery Pathania Embraer ERJ 145 cockpit Régional ERJ145 operating for Air France bmi regional ERJ 145 The Embraer ERJ 145... The Boeing 737 is the worlds most popular short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body airliner. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Regional jets

Many air passengers were not satisfied with propeller aircraft for a number of reasons. Propeller aircraft are slower than jets, and they typically do not have air conditioning available during enplaning and deplaning operations. In most cases they cannot be connected to a jetway, have significantly reduced cabin size, and may lack a flight attendant and an on-board lavatory. Performance issues include the inability to load a full complement of passengers when high fuel loads are required due to weather and air traffic delays. A Jetway, jet bridge or aerobridge/airbridge is a moveable bridge, normally enclosed, which extends from an airport terminal gate allowing passengers to board an airplane without having to go outside. ... Flight attendant in an Embraer ERJ 145 LR (PBair, Thailand) Stewardess, circa 1949-50, American Overseas, Flagship Denmark, Boeing Stratocruiser In aviation, flight attendants—also known as sky girls, air hostesses, stewardesses or stewards—are members of a flight crew employed by airlines to ensure the safety of the passengers... Flush toilet A toilet is a plumbing fixture devised for the disposal of bodily wastes, including urine, feces, methane, semen and vomit. ...

Yet these new small airline companies, conscious of their need to survive economically and provide a financial return to their owners, promoted the use of small turbine powered propeller commuter aircraft on routes extending to smaller cities. What was needed were more efficient small jet aircraft to fill a new niche: longer routes with fewer passengers.

The first widely successful regional jet design was the CL-600 Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) in the early 1990s, which soon started replacing almost all other new aircraft purchases for these new regional airlines^{[citation needed]}. The CRJs range is enough to fill mid-range routes as well, routes previously served by larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and DC-9. These aircraft were originally intended to be used for direct airport-to-airport flights, bypassing hubs. The Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) is a small Canadian airliner based originally on the Canadair Challenger business jet. ... Regional airlines are a type of airline service that is intended to feed a larger airline or larger aircraft. ... The Boeing 737 is the worlds most popular short to medium range, single aisle, narrow body airliner. ... The Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engined jet airliner, first manufactured in 1965 and, in much modified form and under a succession of different names, still in production today as the Boeing 717. ...

Further developments

The main competitor which emerged for the CRJ was the Embraer ERJ 145. Fairchild-Dornier introduced the 328JET to compete, but went bankrupt soon afterwards and the type did not enter large scale production. The Fokker-ERNO design ended when Fokker went bankrupt before the design was finalized. Bombardier, which had previously purchased Shorts, Canadair, de Havilland Canada and Learjet, turned down the offer to purchase Fokker, and the design forecast to replace the shelved BRJX died with Fokker. The Sukhoi Superjet 100, a 60 to 95-seat jet developed by the Russian aerospace firm Sukhoi with assistance of Ilyushin and Boeing, is expected to make its maiden flight in September 2007. Embraer 145 of the Brazilian police (Photo: Lindomar Cruz /ABr) Embraer ERJ 135 American Eagle ERJ 140 British Airways Citiexpress (Now BA Connect) ERJ 145 in British Airways utopia livery Pathania Embraer ERJ 145 cockpit Régional ERJ145 operating for Air France bmi regional ERJ 145 The Embraer ERJ 145... 1944 Fairchild Argus III Fairchild was an aircraft and aerospace manufacturing company based at various times in Farmingdale, New York, Hagerstown, Maryland and San Antonio, Texas. ... The Fairchild-Dornier 328 family of commuter airliners is comprised of several related models, all based upon the basic turboprop-powered 328. ... Fokkers first airplane, the Spin (1910) Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. ... The Entwicklungsring Nord (Northern development circle) was a 1961 joint venture of Bremen-based Weserflug and Focke-Wulf with Hamburger Flugzeugbau to develop parts for rockets. ... Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their creditors. ... logo Bombardier Inc. ... For other uses, see Shorts (disambiguation). ... Canadair was a civil aircraft manufacturer in Canada, and formed the core of Bombardier Aerospace History Canadair was created in 1944 by the government of Canada as a manufacturer of PBY Canso flying boats for the RCAF for patrol duty. ... Learjet is a manufacturer of business jets for civilian and military use. ... The Bombardier BRJX, or Bombardier Regional Jet eXpansion, was a project for a larger regional jet than the Canadair Regional Jet. ... For other uses, see Superjet (disambiguation). ... Sukhoi (pronounced [suk-oi]) (Сухой) is a major Russian military fighter aircraft manufacturer. ... Ilyushin (Russian: Илью́шин) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) aircraft manufacturer (design office prefix Il), founded by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Boeing. ...

Smaller jetliners have been a part of the market since the early days of jet airliners. The Sud Caravelle would today be placed in the "small" category due to its size. Another example includes the 40-seat Yakovlev Yak-40. The key difference between these designs and current regional jets is operational costs.The new designs cost significantly less to operate, making them suitable for many different roles, as opposed to simply being "short to mid-range airliners". Sud Aviation Caravelle The SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner, produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 (when it was still known as SNCASE). ... Yak-40 Yak-40 as business jet The Yakovlev Yak-40 (NATO reporting name: Codling) is a small, three-engined regional transport aircraft. ...

In 2005, the "regional jet" boom suddenly collapsed, as increasing fuel prices and airline bankruptcies led to a rethinking of route structures. The high per-seat operational costs of the classic 50-seat regional jet have been exacerbated by an environment of ever-lowering fares. Furthermore, RJs increasingly were assigned to operate flights of two hours or more. This led to passenger complaints, as their comfort and ergonomics compare unfavourably to the larger "mainline" jets which they replaced on these flights. In late 2005, Canadair suspended its CRJ-200 production line^[1], marking the end of an era for the regional jet. The new trend is for larger aircraft with better economics, exemplified by Canadair's 70-seat CRJ-700 and the 70-110-seat Embraer E-Jets series. The E-Jets in particular blur the line between "mainline" and "regional," as their cabin comfort is comparable or superior to traditional narrowbody jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 while offering ranges of over 2,000 miles. By comparison, the original DC-9 jet aircraft were designed to seat approximately 75 passengers. The Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrowbody, twin-engined, medium range, jet airliners, produced in Brazil. ... The Airbus A320 is a short-to-medium range commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Airbus. ...

Features

Seating on regional airliners tends to be narrow and tight, and passengers typically are restricted from bringing on board carry-on items which would fit without difficulty in the overhead bins of larger aircraft. While designed primarily for medium stage lengths, RJs may now be found supplementing major trunk routes alongside traditional larger jet aircraft. RJs allow airlines to open new "long, thin" routings with jet equipment which heretofore did not exist, such as Atlanta to Monterrey, Mexico. RJs have also meant a return of jet service to cities where full-size jet service had departed over a decade ago, such as Macon, Georgia, and Brownsville, Texas. This article is about the Mexican city; for other uses, see Monterrey (disambiguation). ... Brownsville is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. ...

The notion that regional jet aircraft are less expensive (per seat mile) than traditional jets is a common misconception. On a per mile basis the RJ's cost can in fact be higher. The reason that regional jet operators provide an economic benefit to traditional airlines comes from the fee-per-departure payment structure under which these aircraft are operated. In this payment structure, a traditional airline contracts with a regional airline company on a per departure or per flight basis regardless of the number of passengers or the length of the flight. The traditional airline gets to keep all the revenue from the ticket sale and only pays the regional partner the agreed to amount. These contracts tend to be long term agreements, typically 10 year terms. The regional airline partner can then be relatively sure of the revenue side and only has to control cost in order to earn a modest return. However, these "regional airlines," now really "small jet providers" of contracted aircraft, have been squeezed by airline bankruptcies, fleet reductions and increasing operating costs. Legacy carriers have no longer been willing to shoulder burdensome losses from guaranteed-profit contracts with their small jet providers, and accordingly have played carrier against carrier in a low-bid game that has left hundreds of RJs idle in the desert and others potentially on their way to be laid up.

The idea that regional jets would provide point-to-point service and bypass the hub-and-spoke system may not be materializing as it was expected. As of January 2003, 90% of all regional jet flights in the United States had a hub or major airport at one end of that flight, and this number has been gradually increasing since 1995.

See also

List of regional airliners // These aircraft are distinguishable from other airplanes because of their significance in filling the short-hop role in the hub and spoke model of passenger and cargo distribution. ...

References

1. ^ Bombardier to suspend CRJ200 production Airline Industry Information, October 31 2005