Chautaqua Air (ie: Delta Connection) in Columbus to increase operations

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Feb 15, 2003, 5:51 pm

#31

indufan

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Quote:

Originally posted by RobertS975:
The runway at Key West is relatively short.

I was aware of this issue. Is there a not too technical reason the 70 seat CRJ can fly to EYW and not the 50 seater? That was my question since generally bigger planes take longer runways. What about the 40 seater? I think that is actually the same plane minus 10 seats. Is that correct? But it would presumably be lighter.

Feb 16, 2003, 4:49 am

#32

RobertS975

Join Date: Dec 2000

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Quote:

Originally posted by indufan:
I was aware of this issue. Is there a not too technical reason the 70 seat CRJ can fly to EYW and not the 50 seater? That was my question since generally bigger planes take longer runways. What about the 40 seater? I think that is actually the same plane minus 10 seats. Is that correct? But it would presumably be lighter.

It is a big mistake to simply look at the seating capacity of Different CRJs... the key is thrust to weight ratio. The 40 seat RJ has the same power as the 50 seat CRJ so its performance will be greater than the 50seat CRJ. The CRJ70 has different, more powerful engines altogether. Similarly, DL's MD90s have more powerful engines, and can therefore use SLC with acceptable single engine safety margins whereas the MD88s would have marginal single engine climbout safety margins.