Bombardier's Extension

Bombardier showcased the first NextGen CRJ900 out at Dulles today in launch customer Northwest's livery. The aircraft's revenue flight starts June 7. The aiframer unveiled its NextGen jets last week detailing enhancements in fuel burn, economics, environmental improvement and, of course, maintenance. A check intervals are being extended from 400 hours to 600 hours while C check extensions are from 4,000 hours to 6,000 hours. Bombardier is refining some maintenance task to boost efficiency as well as transferring some tasks currently done outside of check into those planned visits to cut down on aircraft downtime. Another tidbit, Northwest is introducing CMC electronic flight bags into its NextGen CRJs. There's also more bin space and larger windows --- an ever popular feature of new aircraft design.  --Lori Ranson