Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has formally declared the end of the SpaceJet. For the last three years, the program has been mothballed but today brings formal closure. The company cites several reasons for the ending of the program. The SpaceJet was seen as failing to meet the challenges needed to reduce aviation emissions. Moreover, the company cited difficulty in obtaining understanding and cooperation from global partners. The certification process was also not adequately understood, with major changes in the design being necessary even after the first flight of the aircraft. A significant number of ex-Bombardier staff were employed but to no avail. The cost of developing any program requires very extensive financial resources particularly for a company that is developing its an all-new jet aircraft, despite having years of experience with turboprops and aerospace manufacturing. However, the restrictive scope clauses in the U.S., which prevent the introduction of more modern aircraft capable of eliminating emissions, was perhaps the most significant of factors. The problem with pilot shortages in the regional jet sector made it more difficult for operators to consider moving to new aircraft. There is an irony – scope clauses are meant to protect pilot jobs but there is a shortage of pilots in the regional jet sector, so protection is not needed. All that is required is for the weight restriction to be raised to compensate for the heavier engines used on the E175-E2 but all parties seem wedded to maintaining the status thereby failing to address the ever higher contribution of aviation to global warming.
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