Bombardier CRJ200

The Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 are a family of regional airliners manufactured by Bombardier.

Development

The CRJ is based on the Canadair Challenger design, which was purchased by Canadair from Learjet in 1976.

The wide fuselage of the Challenger suggested early on to Canadair officials that it would be straightforward to stretch the aircraft to accommodate more seats, and there was a plan for a Challenger 610E, which would have had seating for 24 passengers. That lengthening did not occur, the effort being canceled in 1981, but the idea did not disappear.

In 1987, studies began for a much more ambitious stretched configuration, leading to the formal launch of the Canadair Regional Jet program in the spring of 1989. The "Canadair" name was retained despite the fact that Bombardier had bought out the company. The first of three development machines for the initial CRJ100 performed its first flight on 10 May 1991, though one of the prototypes was lost in a spin mishap in July 1993. The type obtained certification in late 1992, with initial delivery to customers late in that year.

CRJ100

The CRJ200 is identical to the 100 model except for more efficient engines.

Pinnacle Airlines had operated some with 44 seats, designated as CRJ440, with closets in the forward areas of the passenger cabin, though these were converted to 50 seat airplanes. These modifications were designed to allow operations under their major airline contract "scope clause" which restricts major airlines' connection carriers from operating equipment carrying 50 or more passengers to guard against usurpation of Air Line Pilots Association and Allied Pilots Association pilots' union contract. Similarly, Comair's fleet of 40-seat CRJ200s were sold at a discounted price to discourage Comair from purchasing the less expensive and smaller Embraer 135.

As of August 2006 a total of 938 CRJ100 and CRJ200 aircraft (all variants) were in airline service, with 8 further firm orders. Major operators include Comair (143), Pinnacle Airlines (121), SkyWest Airlines (136), Atlantic Southeast Airlines (110), Air Wisconsin (70), ALMA de Mexico (22), Air Canada Jazz (58), Mesa Airlines (60), Lufthansa CityLine (26), Air Nostrum (35, Plus 7 orders), PSA Airlines (35), Republic Airways Holdings (20) and Mesaba Airlines (19). Some 20 other airlines also operate smaller fleets of the type.

Variants

Several models of the CRJ have been produced, ranging in capacity from 40 to 50 passengers. The Regional Jet designations are marketing names and the official designation is CL-600-2B19.

CRJ100

The CRJ100 is the original 50-seat version. It is equipped with General Electric CF34-3A1 engines. Operators include Air Canada Jazz, Comair and more.

CRJ200

The CRJ200 is identical to the CRJ100 except for its engines, which were upgraded to the CF34-3B1 model, offering improved efficiency.

CRJ440

Certified up to 44-seat, this version was designed with fewer seats in order to meet the needs of some major United States airlines.

;Challenger 800/850 : A business jet variant of the CRJ200