Some market trends are already becoming discernable. Lufthansa Cityline'slarge order for the Fairchild 728 JET with advanced fly-by-wire controlsdoes not mean that airlines generally want the most advanced technology, orthat they are willing to pay for it. There have been few further orders forthe 728 JET.

On the other hand, the hugely successful Embraer family has a "bare bones"design, with "no equipment that the airlines do not need". Clearly, mostairlines prefer simplicity, along with maintainability, reliability,ruggedness and the like from their regional jets. With numerous entrants ina limited market, some of them could be forced out of the market in a fewyears. Would the derivatives of older aircraft be the first casualties? Notnecessarily.

The recently-launched, four-engined, and much improved British AerospaceAvro RJX, derived from the earlier RJ, and the first-generation BAe146,represents good value for money. "Costing $1.5 million more than the earlierRJ, the RJX will have a list price of only about $27 million to $29.5million - less than for any other comparable aircraft", says Nick Godwin,vice-president marketing for British Aerospace Regional Aircraft, in-talkingto this writer. The 70-Seat 728 JET costs about $34 million, bycomparison.

Reason? Being a derivative, the RJX's development cost will be only afraction of the $ 1 billion-plus that a totally new aircraft's developmentwould amount to, Godwin explains, However, the minimum-cost changes madebring the RJX almost on par with the latest regional jets.

Compared to the older Avro RJ, the RJX has the very modern Allied SignalAS977 engine, lower drag, a 230-kg lower empty weight, higher gross weightand hence payload, a steep approach capability to minimise the landing runon short runways, updated avionics and other features.

Indeed, the RJX is much lighter than the B717 and the A318. This is alow-cost, low-risk, high-gain development approach. It is the engine thatmakes the big difference. "The new AS977 engine will give the RJX a 17-percent greater range, 5 per cent more climb thrust, 15 per cent lower fuelburn, and about 20 per cent lower direct engine maintenance costs", Godwinsays. The AS977 is also lighter but more powerful, and much quieter. Ofsimple design, it has 40 per cent fewer parts, which explains the muchlower maintenance cost. It will also be possible to retrofit the AS977 onthe earlier Avro RJ, to significantly enhance its performance.

A major asset is the RJX's unusually spacious cabin, with seats six abreastin economy, five abreast in Business and four abreast in first. At five-abreast, the 48 cm wide seats and the 53 cm wide aisle are the widest in theindustry. Its two-metre stand-up head-room is unprecedented, and makes itpopular with passengers.

The three-member RJX family - RJX-70, RJX-85 and RJX-100 - have 70, 85 and100 seats five-abreast at 31 inch pitch. Seating is very flexible and can beconverted from one layout to another. There are galleys, toilets andairstairs at both ends for flexibility, while service vehicles operatesimultaneously from the other side for a quick turnaround. A mixed fleet ofthe three better matches traffic demand on each route, while offeringcomplete commonality.

The RJX family has rugged, reliable work-horses designed for high-cycleoperation on short sectors. The lead BA 146s had accumulated an amazing42,406 flying hours and 43,124 cycles or operation - and continue to fly.For operation in poor-weather, the RJX will be certificated for CategoryIIIa operations - 50-feet decision height and 200-metre runway visual range(RVR). Optionally, it can offer Category IIIb - 150-metre RVR. Rarely willthe RJX be grounded by weather.

The RJX should sell for long at 18 to 20 a year. The earlier BA-146 and RJare in service with the regional subsidiaries of Avianca, Alitalia, BritishAirways, Lufthansa, Northwest and Sabena. Godwin expects about half theorders from such old customers. Commonality with a type already in the fleetis a major asset. As Britain's best-selling airliner ever, about 350 BA-146sand Avro RJs have been made so far for 54 operators world-wide.

The RJX should extend the production life of this unique aircraft by manymore years.