Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide – Saab 340/Saab 2000

Background - Saab 340

The Saab 340B regional airliner, which first flew in 1989, was developed as a hot-and-high-performance version of the successful Saab 340A twin turboprop transport aircraft with improved operating weight and increased maximum range with maximum payload. Since the aircraft entered service in 1984 with the launch customer Crossair, the Saab 340 has completed over ten million flights. The aircraft is in service with 49 operators worldwide. Production of the aircraft ceased in 1999.

Saab Aircraft Leasing, with headquarters in Washington DC, leases around 289 Saab 340B and Saab 2000 aircraft to 25 airlines.

The Saab 340B has also been fitted in special mission configurations, including an airborne early warning variant S100B Argus in service with the Swedish Air Force and search and rescue versions in service with the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency.

In January 2004, Saab Aircraft Leasing received an order for two 340Plus aircraft from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The aircraft are used for passenger transport and replace three KingAir B200.

In December 2005, the Japan Coast Guard ordered an additional two 340Plus aircraft, designated 340SAR-200 for search and rescue.

In November 2007, the Argentine Air Force ordered four 340B aircraft for transport to be delivered 2008/09. They will be operated by the LADE airline (managed by the Air Force) in the Patagonia region.

The Saab's aircraft cockpit accommodates two pilots and an additional seat is available for an observer or training crew. The flight deck windows are fitted with an electrical de-icing system. The flight deck is fitted with conventional and manual controls and a dual electronic flight instrument display.

The avionics suite includes a Rockwell Collins APS-85 autopilot, a Rockwell Collins APS-85 automatic flight control system, an integrated VHF Omnidirectional Ranger and Instrument Landing System (VOR / ILS) and a Hamilton Sundstrand Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). The antenna of the VOR and the localiser of the instrument landing system are just visible about two-thirds up side of the tail fin near the forward edge.

The communications suite onboard the Saab 340B includes a Rockwell Collins VHF communications unit, an Avtech passenger address unit and a Telephonics cabin interphone. The cockpit voice and cockpit data recorders are supplied by Lockheed Martin.

The main cabin can be fitted in a number of configurations: for 35 or 37 passengers in three-abreast seating; as a corporate or VIP airliner; as a combination passenger and cargo aircraft; or as an all-cargo aircraft.

The first all-cargo version of the Saab 340B was granted the cargo-only FAR/JAR Class E certification in September 2002. The conversion has been developed under a joint initiative by Saab Aircraft AB and Field Aviation Company based in Calgary, Canada. Saab Aircraft Leasing delivered the first aircraft to the launch customer, Castle Aviation, in April 2004.

The all-cargo aircraft carries a maximum payload of 3,856kg (8,500lb) to a range of 556km (300nm). At maximum cruise speed the aircraft carries a payload of 3,402kg (7,500lb) to a range of 1,132km (611nm).

Modifications include removal of the rear bulkhead, centre aisle floor rollers, smoke curtain for flight crew compartment, retained cabin airflow system to allow the transportation of temperature-sensitive goods and six barrier nets which subdivide the cargo cabin.

The aircraft is powered by two GE CT7-9B turboprop engines, each rated at 1,305kW and at 1,394kW with automatic power reserve.

The engine air intakes are fitted with a Cox and Co electrical anti-icing system and the engines are fitted with a Kidde fire detection system.

The engines are fitted with Dowty or Hamilton four-bladed auto-feathering reverse pitch propellers. The two integral fuel tanks, with a total capacity of 3,220l, are installed in the wings. A single-point pressure refuelling intake is located in the starboard outer wing. Each wing has a gravity refueling point in the upper surface of the outer wing section.

The aircraft is fitted with hydraulically operated tricycle-type landing gear supplied by AP Precision Hydraulics. The landing gear is fitted with Goodyear wheels, ABS carbon hydraulic disc brakes and a Hydro Aire anti-skid system. The steerable nose unit moves through +60° to -60° giving the aircraft good ground maneuverability with a minimum ground turning radius of 8.9m.
 

Background - Saab 2000

The Saab 2000 regional transport turboprop aircraft was developed by Saab Aircraft of Linköping, Sweden. It first flew in March 1992 and entered service with launch customer Crossair (now Swiss) in 1994. There are 60 Saab 2000 aircraft operational worldwide in France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Sweden, Switzerland and USA. Production of the aircraft ceased in 1999.

Saab Aircraft Leasing, with headquarters in Washington DC, leases around 289 Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft to 25 airlines. Airlines leasing the Saab 2000 include AirJet of France, Lithuanian Airlines, AeroLitoral of Mexico, Transwest Air of Canada, Blue 1 (formerly Air Botnia) of Finland and OLT GmbH of Germany.

The maximum cruise speed is 370ktas (knots true airspeed), 685km/h and the maximum range is 2,868km. The high-speed performance allows airline operators to interchange fleet timetables with jet aircraft on 500nm routes. The aircraft can carry 50 passengers to destinations over 1,000nm in a flight time of three hours.

The Saab 2000 AEWC aircraft is being developed as an airborne early warning and control variant equipped with a spine-mounted Saab Systems Erieye PS-890 side looking reconnaissance radar.

The Saab 2000FI is a flight inspection mission aircraft developed for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.

In June 2006, the Pakistan Air Force placed an order for six Saab 2000 aircraft to be fitted with the Saab Systems Erieye radar. The aircraft will be used for Airborne Early Warning (AEW). The order was reduced by an undisclosed number of aircraft in 2007. In October 2007, Thailand selected the Saab 2000 Erieye AEW aircraft. Two aircraft are required.

The aircraft is equipped with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite with integrated avionics processor (IAP), an engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS) and a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS). The flight control systems include an Attitude Heading and Reference System (AHRS) and a Digital Air Data System (DADS).

The navigation suite includes an inertial reference system, a Rockwell Collins WR-840 solid-state weather radar with an optional turbulence detection radar. The cockpit has Swedlow electrically heated windscreen panels.

The design of the Saab 2000 is based on the Saab 340, but with a longer fuselage (27.28m versus 19.73m) and larger wing (55.74m³ versus 41.81m³). The 16.7m-long, 2.16m-wide cabin, fitted by Standard AIM Aviation (UK), is configured in a single aisle, three abreast arrangement for 50 to 58 passengers.

The pressurised and air-conditioned cabin is equipped with an Ultra Electronics active noise control system. The aircraft is equipped with a Pacific Scientific fire detection system, a Kidde Graviner fire extinguishing system, a Hamilton Standard Recircair air conditioning and environmental control system which uses engine bleed air.

The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Allison AE 2100A turboprop engines, each rated at 3,096kW and fitted with Lucas Aerospace Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The engine cowlings are manufactured by Westland and Hispano-Suiza.

The six-bladed Dowty propellers, type R381, are constant-speed propellers with auto-feathering and reverse pitch. The blades are fitted with electrical de-icing.

Two integral fuel tanks installed in the outer wing have a total usable capacity of 5,300l. The fuel system is fitted with an overwing gravity refueling station in each wing and one pressure refuelling station in the starboard wing.

A Sundstrand auxiliary power unit provides power for engine starting and for the air-conditioning system.