Half of the conversions were performed on green aircraft. One customer is interested in a quasi-airline 29-seat conversion, with airline seating in the back and VIP seating forward.įlying Colours performed about 30 CRJ conversions over the history of the program, split evenly between shuttle and VIP versions.

“You’re getting a business jet feel with that,” he said.

The Corporate Shuttle configuration has 16 or 18 business jet-style seats. The company is now finalizing interior elements and vendors. With range up to 3,000 nm, the converted CRJ 200’s large and long cabin gives designers a lot of flexibility for layouts ranging from corporate shuttles to VIP versions such as these.Īlto Aviation provides the cabin management system for the Flying Colours-modified CRJ200s, and a saddle tank auxiliary fuel system the MRO developed extends the converted jet’s range about 50 percent, to some 3,000 nm, Gillespie said. “We're looking at Ka- and Ku-band options for international clients,” Gillespie said. For connectivity, customers in North America are opting for Gogo’s Avance L5 system. “It touches every department, from engineering through design and woodwork, maintenance, and paint.” Conversions usually require six to eight months for completion and all are covered by two-year warranties.Ĭustomers can choose the floor plan and other features of the VIP cabin, which will include a galley and spacious lavatory. The makeover program “fits right into our niche of conversions and completions,” he added. “You get a new interior, new paint, and everything else you need, all in one location,” at either Flying Colours’ Peterborough, Ontario headquarters near Montreal or at the company's facility near St.

“The airplane gets a new lease on life, maintenance-wise,” Gillespie said. The conversion turns a CRJ 200 into a Challenger 850-the business jet derivative of the CRJ. “We've got a handful already in the queue for the summer and fall.” Interest in the CRJ conversions-a follow-on to Flying Colours’ ExecLiner VIP and Corporate Shuttle CRJ cabin makeovers introduced at the top of the last decade-has “really picked up in the last six to seven months,” said Flying Colours executive v-p Eric Gillespie. Bombardier MRO specialist Flying Colours (Booth W85) is highlighting this week at EBACE its reinvigorated VIP and shuttle conversion programs for Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets and growing interest among European operators for the full-service, heavy maintenance capabilities offered at its North American facilities.

Bombardier cjr 200