Originally Posted by
JDFlyer
I find the comments about the CRJ-200 really interesting, especially from pilots, who have never flown one - or who have never flown one at a high altitude.
All right, let's have a debate!
I have over 3,500 hours in CRJ-200/700's and I can tell you from personal experience the -200 in not a safe airplane at high altitudes.
I have over 1200 hours in CRJ-200s and can tell you from personal experience the -200 does
just fine in the mid-30s. Sure it gets its "climb restricted jet" moniker honestly, and you'll never get there at ISA+ shortly after a 53.0k takeoff weight full of pax/bags/gas...but if the aircraft weight is right, ISA temps are favorable, and there is some speed on the wing it'll do just fine.
The airplane simply does not have the performance with any sort of fuel load on board with pax and baggage.
You have a very valid point there. The -200, like any underwinged/underpowered CL600-series airplane, doesn't like to go high unless conditions are favorable. That said, if conditions *are* favorable (long leg, mid-weights, ISA temps, etc) there's no reason why the airplane cannot be safely operated at higher, more efficient altitudes.
That's the only point I'm trying to make - if a knowledgeable, well-trained flight crew is driving a -200 series stretch Challenger and understands the limitations of the airplanes and basic high-altitude aerodynamics then the airplane can get up there every day and twice on Sunday (although it will take all day Saturday to get there)
