PAUL LEWIS/ MONTREAL
Bombardier is also to begin modifications to increase production-line commonality with stretched CRJ900
Bombardier is to embark on a year-long programme of post-production modifications to its new CRJ700 to update avionics, improve crew cautions and remove nuisance messages. The Canadian manufacturer at the same time is continuing to evaluate structural and component changes to the 70-seat regional jet to simplify production and increase commonality with the new larger CRJ900.
The engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS) 5 package of modifications includes a new software update for the CRJ700's avionics to solve a number of problems that have hindered the aircraft's introduction into service. There are also improvements in crew cautions as a result of feedback from Transport Canada, such as aural low-fuel alert and more precise fire-warning messages.
Bombardier has delivered around 40 CRJ700s to six customers and is poised to hand over the first of 20 to Mesa Air Group. Mesa's aircraft, the first to be configured in a two-class layout (58 in economy and six in business), will be operated by Freedom Air, its new feeder arm for America West.
With final assembly of the first production example of the 86-seat CRJ900 due to start shortly, the company continues to look for cost savings on the CRJ700. "There are opportunities to further improve manufacturing capabilities and these could be brought down to the CRJ700. We're looking at putting the same wing on the CRJ700 as the CRJ900 to reduce costs," says Pierre Alègre, director of CRJ700 programme management for product development.
While overall wing dimensions for the two aircraft are identical, the CRJ900 wing has a thicker skin gauge which would permit an increase in the CRJ700's maximum take-off weight and, with the extra fuel, up to a 370km (200nm) range improvement. Bombardier is also looking at standardising the Goodrich main landing gear and may use the CRJ900's higher speed tyre on the CRJ700 to improve hot and high field performance.
The idea of incorporating some of the CRJ700 design changes into an update of the 50-seat CRJ200 has been shelved. "The decision has been made to carry on with the current product for the foreseeable future," says Jean Guy Blondin, CRJ700/900 programme director.
Source: Flight International
