saab2000

I do not really like flying the CRJ. Anyone else? I have nearly 2500 hours in the thing, so it's not like it is just new things for me. But sometimes I wonder if it is just me or what.

The thing seems unstable nearly all the time. When climbing out in speed mode below 10000 feet it will really hunt for the speed, especially if there is a turn involved. In cruise above about FL250 the thing pitches and rolls enough to feel like it is balanced on a pin, or to use an analogy, "Feels like someone trying to stand on a basketball."

The CRJ-200 has a very rough ride in turbulence, seems tricky to fly by hand in gusty conditions, lands nose-down, seems unstable in roll, seems unreliable with some systems, is underpowered, is very needy when it comes to speed (gotta fly it fast at nearly all phases of flight) and altitude restricted in the summer when heavy.

I have been on the jumpseat of the -700 a few times and it seems to be a much nicer plane, but even it has some issues which could be fixed (but probably weren't in order to keep commonality). But it seemed much steadier when asked by Chicago Center to slow to 220 knots at about FL200. Additionally, it has enough power to fly as fast as it needs to and climb into the real flight levels in the upper 30s with no problem.

What do other CRJ pilots have to say? I know that the plane doesn't really matter, but after 3 years I am still not used to how this plane feels sometimes and don't like the pitch and roll instability with the autopilot on even to this day. I just don't really trust it. Anyone else?

BoilerUP

I've been flying it for a year and never felt the instability you mention. It has a fast roll rate (much faster than any Boeing) but thats about it. It lands funky with the whole dive-bomb-then-round-out-at-20-feet thing, but I think its rather easy to land, just very difficult to land well. I don't think the ride is that bad in turbulence compared to any other similar-sized jet. It is underpowered, I'll give you that...but most smaller jets are. Bumping thrust up 500lb or so per side would do WONDERS for its climb performance.

There was a big thread on PPW on level change/speed mode climbs vs. VS climbs...and evidently radical hunting for airspeed isn't isolated to the CRJ. The only airplane I've been on that did it well was an Airbus, but I digress. We would climb the Beechjet using pitch and I've heard other CRJ pilots doing this as well...but its more difficult to 'stay on profile' this way. I typically fly speed mode to 10,000 then VS, AP on, and monitor the speed. If I get it up to 290-300 below about F120 I can usually maintain profile and 1000fpm into the low to mid 20s this way as long as it isn't ISA+10 or more.

My biggest *****es about the airplane is the crappy ECS system and the "Canadian snap roll" when it intercepts a LOC on autopilot. Oh yeah, and the lack of a VNAV button on the FCP. That said, I think it is a lot of fun to fly, is easier to land smoothly in a crosswind than without, and is a rather easy 'first jet' to learn.

Remember, its a stretched business jet, not a clean-sheet airliner design...

saab2000

Well, just me then.

I sometimes fly it by hand to 10000, but not usually. Too lazy. You are right about the thrust.

I don't think it is actually unstable, but it sure feels like it to me sometimes.

BTW, you are right about the crosswind. I can make pretty decent landings usually, but even better with about 10 knots of crosswind. One wheel first makes for a much nicer landing.

Airsupport

I agree with boilerup. One of the things i do is, if i don't hand fly to 14000 which i usaully do, i will turn the TURB mode on with speed mode. It cuts the planes reaction time in half, which give it a better chance of holding the 250, instead of pitching all over the place to find it. Pitch mode is great for going through some rough air, or a few build ups. The ECS can hold a pitch a lot better than it can hold speed or vs when going through a rough layer. Another thing i found is it is easier to land with a cross wind than with no wind. This plane also requires a lot of energy. once you lose that energy it is really hard to get it back. like boiler said if you get your speed up to begin with and keep it up you can do pretty good, but once you let it slow down, pretty soon you will be doing 500fpm at 250 knots. Overall though the crj is a great plane, it has its quircks, especially when its cold out, but it does fine. The cr7 and cr9 are a lot better becuase they finally learned that a nice corporate jet cant just be made bigger and be expected to fly like an airliner does. i just dont think the rj is made to be abused (9-10 flights a day) because i know those corporate planes would never do that.

Mookie

pitch mode....no hunting and it smooths bumps out better than turbulence mode which just dampens, but doens't reduce the oscillations.

works great. just make sure you dont' stall it.

mookie

SharkyBN584

Speed Mode on the 145 is no picnic...it hunts that speed down like an ex-con on a hooker the day he gets out. We just use vertical speed while we're outclimbing the -200

saab2000

I hope you can outclimb a -200. Anything can! But it does alright in the winter, maintaining up to 600 FPM well into the 20s!!

SharkyBN584

Just throw a bunch of "CRJ TYPE R" stickers all over it and it'll gain 10 lbs. Thrust per side instantly. Add a cool looking spoiler to the veritcal stab and maybe a sweet sounding exhaust pipe off the back of the engines...holy christ, you'll be able keep up with Chuck Yeager.

Look on the bright side, the CRJ can still outclimb:

1. A seminole
2. A kite
3. Geese (after 1,000 ft.)
4. A Freedom 145 (it's still on MX in MCO)

kansas

I know virtually nothing about the CRJ, but this is one of the funnier posts I've read in a while.

freezingflyboy

Thats some funny stuff!!! Are you guys serious!? 600fpm into the 20s!? I knew the CRJ was bad, I didn't think it was THAT bad. Man, even an old ERJ (I'm referring to the ER model) can do 1000fpm into the 30s with a full boat and a mildly warm day!

EDIT:
Our speed hold sucks in the ERJ too. About the only time it works well is early morning when its smooth. Personally, I hand fly to 10000, push the nose over (500-1000fpm climb) to get to 290 then AP on and speed hold if its smooth or VS if its not.