Bombardier reports that testing and production of the world’s first CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft seems to going well. The technologically advanced 100-seat regional jet was launched in 2007 as the next major step in the evolution of the CRJ Series airliners, the world’s most successful family of regional aircraft.

Better yet, over the weekend, Bombardier announced a new firm order for 15 CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft placed by Air Nostrum. The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft program has now captured 64 firm orders and four options.

“We continue to make strong progress, including the addition of the second production model,” said Benjamin Boehm, Vice President, Programs, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “And we are particularly delighted with the expression of confidence in the program through a significant new order for an additional 15 aircraft from Air Nostrum...”

Among the program’s recent highlights:

• The fuselage barrel for the first production CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft, S/N 19001, arrived at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Québec facilities on January 16, 2009 after traveling by sea and truck from Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast site, Northern Ireland. Wing to fuselage mating is complete and the aircraft has been transferred to the pre-flight hangar at Mirabel. Installation of the cabin interior as well as exterior painting is complete, and the aircraft is now in the final stage of preparation for flight.
• Following its initial flight at Mirabel, S/N 19001 will be flown to the Bombardier Flight Test Center in Wichita, Kansas where it will join the prototype CRJ1000 NextGen airliner, S/N 19991, in the flight test and functional and reliability testing programs. (The prototype aircraft made its inaugural flight from Mirabel on September 3, 2008).
• S/N 19991 had completed over 450 flight test hours by May, 2009, a bit more than 50 per cent of the estimated total flight test hours required for the program. Transport Canada have seen and reviewed the prototype aircraft and the agency’s pilots have had opportunities to fly the aircraft.

  

• The second production model, S/N 19002, is now on the assembly line.
• The CRJ1000 NextGen simulator program is on track and will be certified next month.
• The prototype aircraft has met or exceeded published speeds and altitudes and flutter tests have been successfully accomplished. Flights into natural icing conditions have also been successfully completed. The aircraft weight is on target.
• Transport Canada has approved the escalation of “C” check (heavy maintenance) intervals for the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft to 6,000 flight hours, or approximately three years of airline service, thereby reducing maintenance costs for operators.

  

The CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft is a minimum change variant of the 88-passenger CRJ900 NextGen jetliner and will hold a common pilot type rating with it and the 70-passenger CRJ700 NextGen aircraft. Optimized for medium-haul applications, the CRJ NextGen family of aircraft is a benchmark for regional jet efficiency in the 60- to 100-seat segment.

FMI: www.bombardier.com