Page 37 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FeatuRe MRJ

is also underway. On an average two flight based aircraft lessor Aerolease Aviation, with current products.” Deliveries are to
tests per day, were being done in July and which placed firm orders for ten MRJ90s commence in 2020.
once the aircraft makes its ferry flight to (and ten options) and is the first aircraft
the U.S., multiple flight tests on a daily basis leasing company to conclude a definitive Performance Characteristics
will take place. FTA-3 & 4 will move forward agreement for the purchase of the MRJ. The MRJ family of 70~90-seat next-
with engine tests, aiming for first flights this Deliveries of the MRJ to Aerolease are slated generation aircraft benefits from its clean-
summer. The aircraft that have been involved to commence from 2018. “We have won a high sheet design to deliver a greater than 20
in flight testing thus far are MRJ FTA-1 and evaluation from Aerolease Aviation not just percent fuel-efficiency improvement over
FTA-2, which took to the air for the first time of the asset value of the Mitsubishi Regional current designs. Amongst the highlights
in November 2015 and May 2016 respectively. Jet (MRJ), but also for Japan’s monozukuri of the MRJ for its operators will be its
Flight Test Aircraft 5 (FTA-5) was (manufacturing) capabilities to produce the fuel-efficiency, range and noise levels. This
transferred to the MRJ Final Assembly first domestically-developed jetliner…,” says will make the MRJ especially attractive in
Hangar, on August 20, where it will undergo Hiromichi Morimoto, President, Mitsubishi developed markets where noise and emission
engineering and functional tests. Various Aircraft Corporation. Mitsubishi Aircraft requirements are stringent. The MRJ’s Pratt
tests will be underway for FTA-5 Ferry Corporation has now notched up a total of & Whitney PurePower PW1200G engine
flights to the United States, which was 447 orders for the MRJ (243 firm, 180 option generates high power at slower engine speed
scheduled to start in August. Meanwhile the and 24 purchase rights), this number however, and hence lower noise. The noise reduction is
first aircraft that will be delivered to launch will be achieved when Mitsubishi Aircraft quite noticeable at or near an airport. Current
customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) was signs a definitive agreement with Rockton regional jets reach a decibel level of 70 dBA
declared ready for final assembly towards for the 20 aircraft it has on order. Sweden at a distance of around 9 km away after brake
the end of June at the Mitsubishi Heavy based regional aircraft leasing company release (the point at which the plane starts
Industries (MHI)’s Tobishima Plant. This Rockton became the first European company to accelerate for takeoff). By contrast, the
was marked by MHI’s first shipment of the and second lessor to select the MRJ, when noisiest element of the MRJ’s flight occurs at
fuselage section for the MRJ’s first delivery it placed firm orders for 10 MRJ90s and about 6 kilometers, closer to airport property
aircraft. The MRJ fuselage section has been options for 10 more at the Farnborough and farther from abutting neighbours.
transferred to the MRJ Final Assembly Air Show. Niklas Lund, President, Rockton The smaller noise footprint gives the MRJ
Hangar next to Nagoya Airfield. MHI is now says, “The MRJ is a game changer. Efficient a distinct advantage at environmentally
working through the final assembly process clean-sheet design, unrivalled passenger restricted airports, allowing it to operate
including the fuselage joint, looking forward comfort and new state-of-the-art Pratt & airports nearer to city centers. Its long range
to the first delivery to launch customer ANA Whitney PW1200G engines herald the future capability will allow regional airlines to open
in mid-2018. of regional air travel. This new aircraft will new routes from local airports. The MRJ has a
provide crucial economic benefits to airlines maximum range of around 3,300 km, allowing
Order Book looking to operate in the 70-90 passenger it to fly from Tokyo directly to Shanghai/
The latest customer for the MRJ, is U.S. size segment, especially in comparison Guam and cover almost all of North America
with Denver at the center. This will allow
operators of the type to expand the number
of direct flights they can operate from
connecting local airports.

oPPosite: The MRJ programme
now needs to increase the pace of
developmental testing to be able
to deliver the first MRJ regional
transport aircraft to ANA in 2018
LeFt: Final assembly of the first
MRJ for launch customer ANA is
underway. The MRJ is also winning
customers in the U.S.A. and Europe
and currently has a healthy order
for 243 firm orders and 180 options
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