Guy Norris/LONG BEACH
Boeing aims to go ahead with its shortened 717-100X by the end of the year, and started talks on 4 October with European and US regulatory authorities to establish the certification basis for the 85 seater.
"We need to apply for certification for that model and we plan to use the current certification basis", says 717 vice president and general manager, Jim Philips, adding that the go-ahead is expected by the end of the year. "We need to contact the FAA and JAA (US Federal Aviation Administration and European Joint Aviation Authorities) to see if there are any new regulations that we will have to meet."
Boeing's move to revive the development of a regional jet version of the 717 follows the favourable outcome of business case studies. Philips says, "we had tremendous interest in the -100X at Farnborough. We worked the business case and we've found ways to develop it with reduced production costs."
Boeing also reveals that it has dropped plans to offer a -100X Lite. Instead it plans to develop a shortened -100X with "total commonality" with the current -200 model. The aircraft will therefore be made to the same design and structural standards, with the major difference being the removal of four fuselage frames fore and aft of the wing section. The total shrink is expected to be around 3.86m (152in). The aircraft will also use a derated version of the Rolls-Royce BR715.
Philips denies that the new interest in the -100X is linked to Bombardier's uncertainty over the BRJ-X. He adds that parallel studies of the proposed stretched -300X have also been revived. "There is more interest in that from operators who would like to see a mix of -200s and -300s." The stretch is a 125-seat version suited for shorter range operations on networks with most routes of 1,850km (1,000nm) or less.
Source: Flight International
