On his plans to enter the market of regional jets, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said five years ago. Since then, the initial design was substantially amended, and the company's participation in the production of the Boeing 787 to master technology enabled work with composite materials and apply them in your own project. Experts have no doubt that the Japanese engineering company can bring their plans to fruition. A lot of confidence and contribute to this significant public subsidy. The only question is whether the program will financially successful.
Bradley Perrett
The concept of a regional airliner Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) since its inception in 2002 radically changed several times. If initially the plane was calculated on 30 pass., Today formed a family of six aircraft: the basic version MRJ70 and MRJ90 seating capacity of 70 and 90 seats respectively developed in standard versions, and increased the maximum range. The maximum takeoff weight of 38.3 tons and 42.1
The Government of Japan supports the project - it implements a long ambition to return to the state civil aviation market. Third of the cost for the development of the program will be covered by government subsidies, which amounted to about $ 330 million Funds start flowing immediately after the official launch of the program in the following April; funding for four years. According to the schedule, Mitsubishi Regional Jet will go into operation in 2012 According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, market studies confirm the justification for public investment, although traditionally the government of this country cares more about the long-term prospects for the development of technology and production, rather than for an early return on investment.
Direct subsidies commercial project is not too welcome global aircraft manufacturing community. However, competitors are hardly dare reproach Japanese colleagues: Embraer and Bombardier accustomed to recrimination in making government support. As for the Russian company "Sukhoi" and Chinese enterprises Avic I, they are controlled by their states. Largely due to change in the concept of the aircraft with the mastery of technology working with composite materials than the Japanese company is obliged to draft the Boeing 787. 787 for Mitsubishi manufactures and assembles wing section. Therefore, in a difficult competitive developers decided to bet it on composites. Modern materials, by-wire flight control system (FBWCS) and a new power plant can really give a new type some advantages over traditional players in the regional aircraft market - Embraer and Bombardier. Mitsubishi representatives argue that fuel efficiency MRJ will be 20% higher than competitors. The tender for the supply of engines currently involved Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and General Electric, the first two are ready to offer a new development, and GE - a modernized version of CF34. In this issue, perhaps only the Russian Superjet 100 with a new engine SaM146 is an equally favorable position.
But despite the widespread use of composites, an empty weight of 70-seat MRJ70 greater than the weight of competitive models of the same capacity, primarily due to the fact that both the base versions of the aircraft is designed the same wing. Surprised experts and dimensions of the fuselage. While competitors are trying to offer the most spacious passenger cabin, Mitsubishi designers settled on a circular cross section, the outer diameter is only 2.9 m Given that the row should fit four chairs and aisle width is standard, this decision is not in favor passenger comfort. However, the developers claim that due to the smaller thickness of the walls themselves and access the interior of the cabin will not be less than the competition. The size of the luggage compartment will obviously still the competitors.
"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries owns advanced production technology, and there is little doubt that the company will be able to create a new type of aircraft, - says the analyst agency Moody's Investors Services Hanatate Macs - but the financial success of this project is not so far". One of the problems, which pay attention to the experts, is that since the Mitsubishi company first announced its intention to enter the market for regional aircraft, the market has changed significantly. First of all, increased competition, new players, the Chinese ARJ21 project and the Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100, and has already made significant progress in terms of development and in terms of marketing. Noting that the investment in the project justified MRJ provided sales of at least 400 units, a credit analyst at Standard & Poor Hiroki Cibata said that any delay in entering the serial production will be critical for potential customers. He also reminds us that Mitsubishi is no global sales network or deployed network customer support. In addition, establishing a reputation similar to Bombardier or Embraer, will take years.
However, representatives of Mitsubishi are more optimistic in their forecasts. They estimate that in the next two decades, the need of carriers in the regional aircraft with 70 - 90 passengers. be more than 5000 units. In its assessment of the market, Japanese experts on the assumption that the increase in fuel prices and a reduction in short-haul passenger routes to force airlines greater flexibility in the formation of the park.
This material is published under an exclusive agreement between AVIATION WEEK and "Air Transport Observer". ATO.ru portal and magazine "Air Transport Observer" have exclusive and exclusive rights to use the materials AVIATION WEEK
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