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The Saab 2000 is a turboprop airplane able to cruise at a speed of 665 km/h.

Saab 2000
Darwin Airline Saab 2000
Role	Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer	Saab
First flight	26 March 1992
Introduction	30 August 1994
Status	Out of production
Primary users	Eastern Airways Carpatair Darwin Airline Golden Air FlyLAL
Produced	1992–1999
Number built	63 (57 still in service)
Developed from	Saab 340

Development and Design

Saab 2000 of CityJet at Dublin operating a scheduled service to London City in August 1998

 

Swiss HB-IZX Saab 2000 cockpit

 

Interior of a Darwin Airlines Saab 2000

 

Saab decided to build the 2000 in December 1988 due to perceived demand for a high-speed turboprop which could approach the speeds of jet aircraft while retaining the efficiency provided by turboprop engines. The company had previously introduced the smaller Saab 340 twin turboprop aircraft. The Saab 2000 first flew on 26 March 1992 and entered into scheduled airline service in 1994, a few months after its certification by the Joint Aviation Authorities in March and the Federal Aviation Administration in April.

The Saab 2000 had a 15% greater wingspan than the Saab 340, and being over 24 ft. 9 in. (7.55m) longer could fit up to 58 passengers. The 2000 was the first commercial aircraft to use the 4,591shp Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engines (then built by Allison), driving slow turning six-bladed Dowty Rotol propellers. One engine was mounted on each wing, as in the 340, with the engines placed further from the fuselage than those of the 340 to reduce cabin noise.

Operational history

Sales of the Saab 2000 were fairly limited. The major initial customer was Crossair, a regional airline which had Swissair as a 56% shareholder. Crossair took delivery of 34 aircraft and was still operating the type in 2005. Due to limited demand, Saab ceased production of the Saab 2000 in 1999, with the last aircraft being delivered to Crossair on 29 April of that year.General Motors (GM) operated several corporate-configured Saab 2000s and was in talks with new start-up air carrier Pro Air to have this airline operate them in scheduled service as Pro Air Express in the U.S.; however, Pro Air then encountered financial difficulties and ceased all operations before the deal could be consummated.

By the year 2013, 57 Saab 2000 aircraft remained in service. The primary reason for the low sales was the success of the newly introduced regional jets such as the Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ 145 family which provided better performance and passenger comfort for the same initial price. Some smaller airlines, including Eastern Airways in the UK, have subsequently acquired 2000s at low cost and operated them on regional routes which experience lower passenger numbers.

In June 2006, Pakistan completed the purchase of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to be equipped with the Saab-Ericsson ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning system. Revised in May 2007 due to renegotiation with the Government of Pakistan, only five aircraft will be delivered, four of which will be equipped with the Erieye system. On 3 April 2008, the first Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C was rolled out and presented to Pakistan Air Force officials during a ceremony in Sweden.

Variants

• Saab 2000: 50–58 seat regional airliner.
• Saab 2000FI: Flight inspection aircraft for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, two produced.
• Saab 2000 AEW&C: Airborne Early Warning & Control variant fitted with Erieye radar and associated mission systems.

Operators

Civilian operators

Golden Air' Saab 2000

 

Polet Airlines Saab 2000

 

 

Saab 2000 fleet list, correct at September 2013, from Saab Aircraft Leasing:

• Darwin Airline (9)
• Eastern Airways (8)
• Golden Air (13)
• Moldavian Airlines (1)
• Polet Airlines (5)
• Pakistan Air Force (4)
• Meregrass Inc (1)

Two prototype aircraft have been dismantled (#001 #003). #002 (non airworthy) is used for engineering training at Flygteknik Technical Training in Nykoping, Sweden. Two have been written off (#047, #053).

Accidents and incidents

• On 10 July 2002, Crossair Flight 850, a Saab 2000, was forced to make an emergency landing at Werneuchen Airfield, Germany, as a result of severe weather. One of the sixteen passengers on board suffered minor injuries. The aircraft, registered as HB-IZY, was damaged beyond economic repair when it hit an earth bank placed across the runway, the markings of which did not conform to standards.

Specifications

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 50–58 passengers
• Payload: 5,900 kg (13,010 lb)
• Length: 27.28 m (89 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 24.76 m (81 ft 3 in)
• Height: 7.73 m (25 ft 4 in)
• Wing area: 55.7 m² (600 sq ft)
• Airfoil: NASA MS(1)013
• Aspect ratio: 11:0
• Empty weight: 13,800 kg (30,424 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 22,800 kg (50,265 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Allison AE 2100A turboprop, 3,096 kW (4,152 shp) each
• Propellers: six blade constant speed Dowty propellers, 1 per engine

Performance

• Cruise speed: 665 km/h (370 knots, 424 mph)
• Service ceiling: 9,450 m (31,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 11.4 m/s (2,250 ft/min)

Avionics

• Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite with integrated avionics processor (IAP)

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_2000