I always see 757s, A320s and 767s being retired in the desert probably due to their age and cycles. I can only imagine that CRJ's and ERJ's accumulate more cycles in a shorter amount of time due to their quick hops. Does anyone have a clear answer as to how many cycles a typical RJ is good for? Some of these aircraft are getting pretty hairy (I think I have seen grass growing in one of these things) and it's pretty surprising to me that we haven't had anything suffer some type of structural fatique. I know they are smaller aircraft in which can endure a higher PSID than the bigger cabins but there has to be a predetermined cycle number that the engineers have come up with.

 

There's a CRJ2 at comair that I think is holding the record for oldest RJ out there. Maybe one of them could give you more of an idea

 

Lets wait and get a for sure count. Midwest just bought all those E190s brand new, my guess is they will be putting mainline pilots out of jobs for many cycles to come.

 

40,000 hour limit on the CRJ series. Don't know about cycles, and any hour extensions approved by FAA.

SkyWest has at least one (can't remember if it's 403SW, ser# 28 and first CRJ for Skywest, or 405SW, ser#29) had 38,000 hours more than a year ago.

Note: 404SW is a Cessna 172, which probably explains why sequential serial numbers are two numbers apart on their registration numbers.

 

7004 29/10/1992 03/04/2009 D-ACLA To Jetlink Air
as 5Y-

7006 30/12/1992 01/05/2007 D-ACLC To ALMA de México
as XA-UHB

7007 23/05/1993 13/05/2006 D-ACLH To Cimber Air
as OY-RJD

7009 04/02/1993 30/04/2007 D-ACLD To Cimber Air
as OY-RJE

7015 01/05/1993 01/05/2006 D-ACLF To Cimber Air
as OY-RJC

7016 01/05/1993 26/02/2007 D-ACLG To ALMA de México
as XA-UGW

7019 17/07/1993 05/07/2007 D-ACLI To Cimber Air
as OY-RJF

7021 30/07/1993 07/02/2007 D-ACLJ To MWR Aviation
as N155MW

 

Yep good old ship 7011. That airplane is so worn out. I will see if I can find out how many hours and cycles it has. I haven't flown in it in awhile.

Rumor around Comair is that the smithsonian wants it for an exhibit in the future. It was the first RJ in the states.

 

I wonder how long it takes them to pay one of those things off. It's like a crappy car loan that goes upside down. It's not uncommon to see a ramp full of heavy jets and narrow bodys just taking a break for a half the day. It seems like you never see any relief on the RJ's. Just going all day long with 20-30 minute turns. I have started flights before 5AM and ended days after midnight, all scheduled. Since they aren't making any more 200's you would think they are going to start fading away. I know the pax don't really deserve anymore than a ratty ole' regional jet for the price they pay but man it's embarrasing with all the deferals sometimes. Both lavs defered, two pax seats, both coffee makers, an APU door open with the APU inop (limited to 220KIAS), and some auto pressurization deferal making the changes in alt pretty uncomfortable. I'm sure others have seen worse but that was beyond my level of comfort when it comes to deferals. I haven't been on too many mainline aircraft where that was the case and all they talk about is this seemless experience.

These planes need a break or they need to just give up the fight and put them to sleep.

 

7011 made it's last revenue airline flight on 9/24/09. It has 37,689.40 hours and has 34,842 cycles. 7011 was accepted by Comair on 4/30/1993!

 

That is just another rumor created by a Comair lifer.

 

Only 34,842 cycles eh? Aren't some NWA DC-9's close to the 100k mark. Guess they don't make planes like they used to.