Hot and cold schedule keeps RJX away from Paris
STEVE NICHOLS
Visitors looking for the new BAE Systems (Hall 2B, Stand H11/8) Avro RJX regional jet had better brace themselves for a disappointment. An extensive hot-and-cold testing schedule in the Americas means that the prototype won¹t be at Le Bourget.
The aircraft, which made its maiden flight on April 28 and its first public appearance last month at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in the UK, is on target for certification in the first quarter of 2002. It combines the proven Avro RJ airframe with Honeywell's new AS977 engine and updated systems to offer a "lower-cost platform than the $1 billion-plus regional airliner programmes proposed by other manufacturers".
Early signs are that the aircraft is going to be popular. Launch customer Druk Air has placed an order for two RJX-85s to work its Himalayan routes. British Airways subsidiary CityFlyer has an option on six RJX-100s, while British European has ordered 20 -100s (12 firm, eight options) to operate on UK routes.
While the 400 BAe 146 and Avro RJ-series aircraft already delivered have always found a niche where short take-off and landing and low noise are required, BAE Systems is very keen to shake off the image of the RJX being an aircraft "just for city airports".
Variants
"A BAe 146 or Avro RJ takes off somewhere in Europe every 40 seconds," says BAE Systems Aircraft Services Group managing director Mike O'Callaghan. "Nearly half the regional jets flown in the region are BAE Systems products – it's hardly a niche aircraft!"
With all variants (70, 85 and 100 seats) having a range of more than 3,000km (1,620nm), 32 per cent more than the RJ-85, the RJX is expected to appeal to a wider customer base.
But the BAE Systems is also keen to support its existing customer base - 80 per cent of all RJ/RJX orders are from existing customers.
Economy is a big RJX selling point - the new Honeywell engines promise 12,000 hours minimum on the wing, a 25,000-cycle disc life, an LRU replacement time of 15min, and dual FADEC. Fuel economy is improved by 15 per cent too.
Performance
Niche aircraft or not, the RJX offers excellent short-runway performance. From typically less than 1,200m for the RJX-70 to about 1,500m for the RJX-100, the aircraft outperforms the competition. As if to prove the point, on its first public appearance it landed in about 400m.Noise levels will be at least 18EPNdb below Stage 3 requirements and will meet Stage 4, while emissions meet IATA Class 5 and Class 6, due to be introduced in 2003. The new Honeywell AS977 engines have now accumulated more than 6,000hr of test time, including more than 100hr aboard the RJX.A second RJX-100 will join the test programme in late July, with the first production example rolling out in October. All three aircraft will eventually be refurbished for sale, with the first aircraft joining British European in April 2002.
Source: Flight Daily News
