Mistubishi MRJ

The new slim seat installed on the MRJ is made with unique 3 dimensional net fabric. The fabric has a thickness of only 1/4 inch, which enables the bottom and back of the seat to be thinner than conventional seats, producing wider leg room.
Moreover, the fabric disperses body pressure and perspiration, which will offer better comfort for passengers

Production of parts for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) could start this month, as Mitsubishi Aircraft enters the production drawing phase for the new jet.

The design review for the aircraft was completed last week, says a Mitsubishi spokesman.

"We are proceeding with the production drawing phase, which will include more detailed designing of the parts. The first production could start this month," he adds.

Development of the MRJ is on track, says Mitsubishi. The 90-seater aircraft's first flight is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012, with first delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways in the first quarter of 2014.

ANA has placed a firm order for 15 aircraft with 10 options. Besides the Japanese airline, American regional carrier Trans State Holdings has signed a letter of intent for 50 firm orders and 50 options.

Production of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) has started today, with the first metal cut for the aircraft's horizontal stabiliser by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

The manufacturing work kicked off at a ceremony at MHI's Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works, where aluminium material was cut for the horizontal stabiliser's frame component, says Mitsubishi Aircraft (MJET).

"Following MHI's lead, project partners will now launch manufacturing of the various components they are responsible for, based on the production drawings," it adds.

"The start of the MRJ's production indicates that development of the aircraft's production drawings is progressing after detailed design review this summer."

MJET completed the design review of the MRJ earlier this month. The 90-seater aircraft's first flight is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012, with first delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) in the first quarter of 2014.

MHI is manufacturing the MRJ's major components, including the fuselage, wing, empennage and core system. It is also responsible for the final assembly and equipment installation of the aircraft.

"Going forward, MHI and MJET continue to devote their utmost efforts to make the MRJ project a success, aiming to play a significant role in the ongoing development of the global aviation industry," says MJET.

ANA has placed a firm order for 15 aircraft with 10 options. Besides the Japanese airline, American regional carrier Trans State Holdings has signed a letter of intent for 50 firm orders and 50 options.

St. Louis-based Trans States Holdings (TSH) signed a firm order for 50 Mitsubishi Regional Jets and secured options on another 50, Mitsubishi Aircraft announced today during a ceremony held in Nagoya, Japan. The sides finalized and executed the so-called definitive purchase agreement on December 27, almost 15 months after Trans States Airlines TSA signed a letter of intent to become the first U.S. customer for the 76- to 88-seat family of regional jets.


“We have been very excited about the MRJ program for a long time, and we are extremely pleased to conclude this major order on December 27 last year reaffirming the 100 aircraft commitment we made with our LOI,” said TSH president Rick Leach during today’s ceremony in Nagoya. “Since that launch order, we have learned a lot about the quality of the Mitsubishi Aircraft team and the quality of the MRJ aircraft. Both have given us great confidence. In addition, many good things have happened with the MRJ itself. Mitsubishi Aircraft has entered the production drawing phase for the MRJ and continues to proceed with the manufacturing process.”

Accompanied by Mitsubishi Aircraft president Hideo Egawa, Leach also visited the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry’s Tobishima Plant, where the project’s various partners expect final assembly of the MRJ to start soon.

The start of MRJ production–marked by the cutting of the first metal by MHI on September 30–signaled the successful conclusion of last summer’s detailed design review, during which MHI froze the final configuration of the 88-seat MRJ90 and reached conclusions about the changes needed for the 76-seat MRJ70 and the still unlaunched 100-seat MRJ100X. Following MHI’s lead, project partners launched manufacturing of the various components for which they have taken responsibility, based on production drawings now in process.

Plans call for the MRJ90 to fly for the first time in 2012, gain Japanese certification in late 2013 and enter airline service during the first quarter of 2014. The MRJ70 would likely gain certification approximately a year later. The MRJ100X remains in the preliminary design phase. Still lacking a customer, that airplane likely won’t reach the market until 2016 or 2017, depending on when the company decides to launch the program.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems last year signed a multi-year agreement with Mitsubishi Aircraft under which it will initially provide engineering development and integration services related to flight-test equipment and systems for the Pratt & Whitney PW1200G-powered aircraft. The contract complements another deal under which a team from BAE Systems’ Regional Aircraft business at Prestwick, Scotland, supports engineering on a number of work packages, including the powerplant, pylon, nacelle, auxiliary power units and fuel systems.

With the TSA order, Mitsubishi Aircraft has collected firm orders for 65 airplanes, including fifteen 88-seat MRJ90s from launch customer All Nippon Airways, which also holds options on another 10.

Mitsubishi Aircraft is likely to start work on the 100-seat variant of its MRJ business jet only after the smaller types have had their first flight.
The MRJ 90 is scheduled to have its first flight in mid-2012, while the MRJ 70 will take to the skies around a year later. All Nippon Airways, the MRJ's launch customer, has ordered 15 MRJ 90s while US regional carrier Trans States Airlines (TSA) has bought 50 that will include a combination of both variants.
"We keep studying the MRJ 100X, a stretched version of the MRJ 90. Our engineers are busy developing the MRJ 70 and MRJ 90 now, as that is what the market wants," says Hitoshi Iwasa, vice-president for sales and marketing. "Airlines in Europe, Latin America and Asia have been talking to us about the MRJ 100X, we are listening to their opinion all the time. It depends on the customers' needs, but there's more demand for the other variants and those will go ahead first."
TSA signed a definitive agreement, which includes 50 options, in December, and that is helping to drum up interest in an aircraft that Mitsubishi believes will revolutionise the regional jet market. "The MRJ is still a paper plane, and the TSA order creates more interest - its competitors want to know how to respond and they talk to us. After the first flight next year, there will be more," says Iwasa.

Assembly of the Mitsubishi MRJ regional jet started on 5 April, with riveting work starting at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
MHI started riveting work on the frame structure around the emergency escape hatch for crew in the aircraft's cockpit roof, says Mitsubishi Aircraft.
"[The] start of assembly work indicates that the MRJ project to develop Japan's first passenger jet is progressing steadily and firmly as scheduled," it adds.

© Mitsubishi Aircraft

The MRJ 90 is scheduled to make its first flight in the second quarter of 2012, with first delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways in the first quarter of 2014. The MRJ 70 variant will have its first flight in 2013.
Production of individual aircraft parts of the MRJ began last autumn.
MHI, which is responsible for manufacturing major parts of the MRJ including the fuselage, wings and empennage, will also take charge of the Pratt & Whitney PW1217G-powered aircraft's final assembly.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Aircraft has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Amsterdam to act as the sales base for the MRJ in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The new subsidiary will begin operations on 1 May, says Mitsubishi Aircraft.
"Europe is the second largest market for regional jet aircraft, following the United States. The new regional sales base allows Mitsubishi Aircraft to conduct on-the-ground sales activities to customers without any time differences," it adds.
The subsidiary will also cover the Middle Eastern and African markets.
"We have many potential customers showing strong interest in the MRJ in the European region. We expect establishing this new sales office will greatly enhance our presence in the region, resulting in new orders," says Mitsubishi Aircraft president Hideo Egawa.
Mitsubishi Aircraft says it expects a total market for 5,000 regional jets in the next 20 years, with 30% of this coming from Europe.
So far Mitsubishi has orders for 65 MRJs, with All Nippon Airways taking 15 MRJ 90s and US regional carrier Trans States Airlines 50, a mixture of both variants.