Regional Jets. Sometimes an easy way out for carriers to reduce costs, sometimes a way to create vital connections between point to points.
Some regional jets aren’t that bad (in your writers eyes, the Embraer E-Jet family is pretty good). Some are middling (I personally love the ERJ-145 with the window and aisle seat it offers – some hate it as you can’t stand straight), and others… are pure pain in the box (yes, I’m talking about the Bombardier CRJ-200 which is uncomfortable in just about any configuration).
The move over the past few years has been to abandon the 50 seater or less market, and move upward to the 70-90 seater (or more) planes. Such planes in this range include:
- Bombardier CRJ-700, CRJ-900 and CRJ-1000 (and at a push – the CSeries which will seat more than a traditional regional jet)
- Embraer E-170, E-175, E-190, E-195 (with the upcoming E2 series)
- Sukhoi Superjet 100 Series
- Antonov An-148, AN-158
However, in the background Mitsubishi have been working on the MRJ – Mitsubishi Regional Jet.
Mitsubishi Regional Jet Rendering – Image Mitsubishi.
This plane will be a 70 or 90 seater jet, powered by Pratt and Whitney PurePower PW1200G Geared Turbofan engines.
There have been some delays to the project, but the first ground test aircraft for the programme has broken cover to commence strength tests.
Images – Mitsubishi.
The plane itself in these images as a work in progress, with the main structures complete. There are core things missing – like the engines.
Tests will begin over the summer to understand how the plane meets safety standards, both in strength and fatigue (which will require a second frame). These tests are need for the plane to get its “Type Certificate” and “Airworthiness Certificate” – a requirement if a plane is going to fly, least of all carry passengers.
All being well and no further delays encountered first flight is aimed for 2015, with delivery to customers from 2017.
It’s going to be tough for this plane. Whilst it has 165 aircraft on order (with options for another 160), orders so far have only come from ANA, Trans-State Airlines (who operate for United Airlines, US Airways and Skywest (who operate for Alaska Airlines, American Eagle/Envoy, Delta, United and US Airways) – and all for the MRJ-90 variant. Whilst the E-Jets2 programme has racked up only 200 orders so far, the MRJ programme has been running from 2007. The E-Jets2 programme was only formally released for sale in 2013.
The market for 70/90 seater jets is only going to intensify as regional operators shed their smaller, higher fuel burning (and thus – more expensive fare) aircraft and go to larger aircraft which can cram more people in… whilst paying pilots and crew as little as they can get away with.
Still – it’s good to see that Mitsubishi are moving forward on this project and adding some wonderful diversity to the skies.
