From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saab 340A of Aurigny Air Services.

A United Express Saab 340 prepares to accept passengers. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO), March 30th 2005.

Saab AEW & C surveillance aircraft, at Linköping, on the occasion of Saab's Diamond Jubilee, in 1997

Australia's REX - Regional Express is one of the world's major Saab 340 operators with its ever growing fleet of over 30.

The Saab 340 is a two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild in a 65/35 ratio. Under the initial plan Saab built the fuselage and fin, and also performed final assembly in Linköping, Sweden while Fairchild was responsible for the wings, empennage, and engine nacelles. After Fairchild ceased this work, wings were assembled in Sweden.

Originally designated as the SF340, the aircraft first flew on 25 January 1983. After Fairchild exited the aircraft manufacturing business in 1984 the designation was eventually changed to 340A. An improved version of the 340A, the 340B, introduced more powerful engines and a wider tailplane in 1989. The final version, the 340B Plus, incorporated improvements that were being introduced at the same time in the Saab 2000, and was delivered for service in 1994.

One of the improvements introduced in the 340B Plus was the installation of an active noise control system in the cabin, greatly reducing noise levels to the passengers. The first ever 340B plus was delivered new to Hazelton Airlines in Australia in 1995 and later operated for Regional Express. Another change from earlier models was the moving of the lavatory compartment from the aft of the passenger cabin to just aft of the flight deck. This increased total available cargo volume as the original location intruded into the cargo bin area.

The Saab 340 typically seats 30, 33, 34, 35 or 36 passengers, with 34 seats being the most common configuration.

The military variant is the Saab 340 AEW & C, which is an electronic surveillance aircraft.

As of October 2005, there were 430 Saab 340's in service with 56 operators in 25 countries.^[1] In August 2006 a total of 361 Saab 340 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service around the world with some 49 operators.^[2]

Saab ceased the production of civil aircraft in 2005.

This aircraft article has not been updated to WikiProject Aircraft's current standards. Please see this page for more details.

• Accommodation: 2 pilots, 1 flight attendant + 30 to 36 passengers
• Range: 1730 km (935 nm)
• Wing span: 21.44 m (70 ft 4 in)
• Length: 19.73 m (64 ft 9 in)
• Height: 6.97 m (22 ft 11 in)
• Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m) (commercial) and 31,000 ft (9,400 m) (executive configuration )
• Maximum speed:
  • 340A - 267 kt IAS (480 km/h)
  • 340B/B Plus - 282 kt TAS (523 km/h)
• Powerplants:
  • 340A - Two 1295 kW (1735 shp) General Electric CT7-5A2 turboprops
  • 340B/B Plus - Two 1305 kW (1750 shp) General Electric CT7-9B turboprops
• Propellers: Dowty Rotol (All models) or Hamilton Standard (340B only) four blade constant speed (Total diameter 132 in (3.35 m))
• Fuel capacity: 2580 kg (5690 lb)
• Max. Gross Weight:
  • 340A - 12,930 kg (28,500 lb)
  • 340B/B Plus - 13,200 kg (29,000 lb)
• Max. Landing Weight:
  • 340A - 12,33.6 kg (27,200 lb)
  • 340B/B Plus - 12,900 kg (28,500 lb)

• Cabin
  • Cabin Length: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
  • Cabin Width: 2.2 m (7 ft 1 in)
  • Headroom: 1.8m (6 ft 0 in)
  • Aisle Width: .4m (16.3 in)
  • Max Cabin Pressure Differential: 7.1psi Auto/7.5 Max

The major operators of the 361 Saab 340s still in airline service in August 2006 include: American Eagle Airlines (78), Mesaba Airlines (59), Regional Express (32), Colgan Air (31), Air Nelson (17), Loganair (13), Japan Air Commuter (11), Shuttle America (11) and Aerolitoral (AeroMexico) (6).^[2]

Regional Express Airlines has ordered 25 Saab 340Bplus aircraft in the largest lease deal for the type, which has a redesigned extended wing to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency. It should enter service over the next three years. ^[2]

List of operators:

• Colgan Air [Continental Connection, United Express and US Airways Express] (USA)
• Mesaba Airlines under the name Northwest Airlink for Northwest Airlines. (USA)
• American Eagle Airlines (USA)
• Rex - Regional Express (Australia)
• Macair Airlines (Australia)
• Aerolitoral (Mexico)
• Air Nelson (New Zealand)
• Loganair (British Airways franchisee) (UK)
• Japan Air Commuter
• LADE (Argentina)
• Sol Líneas Aéreas (Argentina)
• Pen Air (USA)
• Pacific Coastal Airlines (Canada)
• Calm Air (Canada)
• Transwest Air (Canada)
• Quebec Air Express (Canada)
• Golden Air (Sweden)
• RegionsAir (USA)
• Eznis Airways (Mongolia)
• Chicago Express (USA)
• Direct Fly (Poland)
• Sky Taxi (Poland)
• SkyExpress (Poland)
• RAF-Avia (Latvia) - cargo
• DOT LT (Lithuania)
• Crossair (Switzerland)
• Adria Airways (Slovenia)- cargo
• Carpatair (Romania)
• OLT Ostfriesische Lufttransport (Germany)
• Moldavian Airlines (Moldova)
• Air Rarotonga
• Vildanden (airline) (Norway)
• Air Åland
• Finncomm Airlines (Finland)

• Sweden.

Saab Aircraft Leasing Corp list of operators: *[1]

1. ^ -courtesy www.saabaircraft.com
2. ^ ^{a b c} Flight International, 3-9 October 2006

See also:List of civil aircraft