| dc.description.abstract | Airlines are increasingly using regional jets
to better match aircraft size to high value, but
limited demand markets. This has been
especially important following increased
financial pressure on the industry after
September 11th 2001. The increase in regional
jets represents a significant change from
traditional air traffic patterns. To investigate the
possible impacts of this change, this study
analyzed the emerging flight patterns and
performance of regional jets compared to
traditional jets and turboprops. In addition, a
comparison between regional jet flight patterns
in the United States and Europe was conducted.
Regional jet operations generally cluster in
the regions with high traditional jet operation
density, implying a high level of interaction
between the two aircraft types. The regional jets
were observed to fly shorter routes than
traditional jets, with few transcontinental flights.
However, the gap between regional and narrow
body traditional jet stage lengths appears to be
closing. In addition, regional jets were observed
to exhibit lower climb rates than traditional jets,
which may impact air traffic control handling
and sector design. It was also observed that
regional jets cruise at lower altitudes than
traditional jets possibly due to their shorter flight
routes. Finally, it was observed that regional jets
cruise at a lower Mach number than traditional
jets, except on specific high density routes where
the regional jets are either slowing down the
traditional jet traffic or flying above their
optimum cruise speed. Since the composition
and utilization of the national fleet is changing,
this will pose potential problems for air traffic
management. In particular, it may cause serious
congestion issues when demand increases during
an economic recovery. | en |
