Sep 07 2012

Felix Airways begins fleet renewal program

Felix Airways LogoFelix Airways has announced that it intends to launch a fleet renewal program in the near future. As part of this program, the airline will be removing all of its CRJ-200 and CRJ-700 aircraft from its fleet and replacing them with other aircraft types.

The airline will replace the two CRJ-200s with a pair of DHC-8Q-400 NextGen turboprops and a pair of Airbus A319s or A320s to replace the two CRJ-700s the airline operates currently.

The airline’s current fleet consists of:

7O-FAI          CRJ-200ER          MSN 7307          (Ex N636BR)

7O-FAJ          CRJ-200ER          MSN 7308          (Ex N637BR)

7O-FAA          CRJ-700          MSN 10267

7O-FAB          CRJ-700          MSN 10268

Sep 06 2012

First ERJ-145s being retired from service and possibly scrapped

ERJ-145According to news reports, it appears that the first Embraer ERJ-145s to be retired from service and earmarked for scrapping have been purchased by Aerovision International. The company is well known in the aviation industry for purchasing and parting out various aircraft.

The company has obtained a total of ten ERJ-145s from Mesa Airlines who removed more than thirty of the type from its fleet during Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. Mesa still has for sale the balance of their ERJ-145s that were removed from service at that time.

The ten ERJ-145s are currently located at Hot Springs Arkansas awaiting their fate.

Aerovision has not publicly indicated if they will scrap or sell on the 145s, but the ten in storage may not be attractive to prospective buyers.

The used market value for an ERJ-145 currently fluctuates around $3 million US. Much below this price and it is more economical to part out the airframe and scrap the remnants.

Sep 04 2012

Eurolot converts options on six DHC-8Q-400 NextGens

Eurolot Logo

Eurolot has converted options on six DHC-8 -Q400 NextGen aircraft to a firm order that will increase its fleet to 14 aircraft in total. Eurolot’s firm order for eight DHC-8Q-400 NextGen aircraft with 12 options was announced on March 9, 2012, and delivery of the first aircraft occurred on May 17, 2012.

Including the order announced today, Bombardier has firm orders for 460 DHC-8Q-400 and DHC-8Q-400 NextGen aircraft. The type is in service with more than 40 operators in 33 countries, on six continents. In total, Q400s have carried more than 227 million passengers and have logged more than 3.5 million flight hours and over 3.8 million take-offs and landings.

Sep 03 2012

The History of Canadair Regional Jet MSN 7002

This is one in a series of articles on Winglets which track the histories of Canadair Regional Jets.

CRJ100ER MSN 7002 C-FNRJ Condition in 2011

CRJ100ER MSN 7002 C-FNRJ
Condition in 2011

  • MSN 7002
  • C-FNRJ (Original Registration) XB- (Unknown Final Registration)
  • Second Canadair Regional Jet Built
  • Flight Testing, Operated in Airline Service, Donated to UNAQ in Mexico
  • First Flight August 2, 1991
  • Donated in 2010 to Universidad Nacional Aeronautica de Queretaro

Aircraft History

C-FNRJ was the second Canadair Regional Jet built. After the loss of 7001, the majority of the CRJ flight test program was undertaken by 7002. This continued until the aircraft was leased for a short time to Southern Winds in a partial Bombardier House color scheme before being returned to be used in flight testing again. The aircraft served in this role until late October 2010 when Bombardier donated 7002 to the Universidad Nacional Aeronautica de Queretaro (UNAQ) in Mexico.

CRJ100ER MSN 7002 C-FNRJ Location as seen in Google Earth

CRJ100ER MSN 7002 C-FNRJ
Location as seen in Google Earth
(7002 is in lower center of image)

The aircraft was flown to Queretaro Intercontinental Airport (AIQ) where a handover ceremony was held on Ocotber 21, 2010. The aircraft remains at that location and is used as a training aid for students to learn manufacturing processes and aircraft repair skills. It is unclear if this aircraft still retains its Canadian registration as it is not in public view at its current location. Images taken of 7002 in 2011 indicated that the aircraft was unpainted with its serial number marked on the nose in standard Bombardier practice with various stickers on the fuselage. 7002 is unlikely to ever take to the skies again, but is expected to serve in this, its final role, for years to come.