Andrew Doyle/OBERPFAFFENHOFEN
Atlantic Coast Jet (ACJet) has taken delivery of the first high-gross-weight Fairchild 328JET as part of its firm order for 25 of the type to be operated under the Delta Connection banner.
Meanwhile, development of the stretched 428JET - for which ACJet sister carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA)is the provisional launch customer - has slipped six months behind schedule with entry into service due at the end of the first quarter of 2003. The slippage follows a similar recent delay to the 70-seat 728JET programme.
The 32-seat 328JETs being delivered to ACJet are the first to offer a maximum gross weight of 15.7t (34,500lb) - 450kg heavier than the standard aircraft. This will enable the airline to fly sectors of up to 1,665km (900nm) with a full passenger load.
The carrier, a subsidiary of Washington Dulles-based ACA Holdings, will receive 14 328JETs this year and 11 more in 2001 for operation on yet-to-be-announced Delta Connection services from the north-east USA. Options are held on 30 more aircraft.
Fairchild chief executive Chuck Pieper says the 44-seat 428JET programme slipped mainly because of uncertainties over the refinancing of the company. This led to a reluctance among partners to make a full commitment to the project as they were having to "look around corners", says Pieper. The concerns have since been resolved following Fairchild's take-over by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).
The 428JET is being developed in close co-operation with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), which will also manufacture the fuselage and undertake final assembly of the aircraft. Pieper admits IAI had doubts about the future of the programme before the CD&R deal.
Improvements being introduced to the design are expected to push up development costs by $50-80 million, according to Pieper. These will reduce the aircraft's empty weight and production costs.
The wing and main undercarriage are to be moved rearwards by a few centimetres and the tail section is being slightly modified.
ACA, which operates under the United Express banner, has a "conditional" order for 40 428JETs, but the contract cannot be firmed up until agreement is reached with United's pilots over a modified scope clause. The airline, already operating a large fleet of Bombardier CRJs and British Aerospace Jetstream 32/41s, is also buying 15 328JETs. The 328/428JETs will be used to replace the turboprops.
"With the 428JET being a new aircraft our expectations were that a delay was possible," says ACA Holdings chief executive Kerry Skeen.
Pieper, meanwhile, reveals that Fairchild's talks with the major leasing companies over potential 728JET family orders are intensifying.
Source: Flight International
