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The 1900 first flew on September 3, 1982, with [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) certification awarded in November 1983 under [[Federal Aviation Regulations|Special Federal Aviation Regulation]] (SFAR) 41C airworthiness standards. Like the 1900, the 1900C was certified under SFAR 41C, but the later 1900D version was certified to FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards.<ref name="ARAC">[http://airliner.raytheonaircraft.com 1900 Airliner model information from Raytheon Aircraft Services' web site]</ref>
The 1900 first flew on September 3, 1982, with [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) certification awarded in November 1983 under [[Federal Aviation Regulations|Special Federal Aviation Regulation]] (SFAR) 41C airworthiness standards. Like the 1900, the 1900C was certified under SFAR 41C, but the later 1900D version was certified to FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards.<ref name="ARAC">[http://airliner.raytheonaircraft.com 1900 Airliner model information from Raytheon Aircraft Services' web site]</ref>


The 1900 entered service in February 1984, with the first ExecLiner corporate version delivered in 1985. A total of 695 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft were built, making the airliner the best-selling 19-passenger airliner in history.<ref name="GSO"/><ref>The [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]] series outsold the 1900 series, but many were built as corporate Merlins and purpose-built Expediter freighters. The 19-seat [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] outsold both types, but it is typically used in different operations.</ref> With market trends favoring larger 50- to 90-seat [[regional jet]]s, Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in October 2002. Many airlines continue to fly the 1900.
The 1900 entered service in February 1984, with the first ExecLiner corporate version delivered in 1985. A total of 695 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft were built, making the airliner the best-selling 19-passenger airliner in history.<ref name="GSO"/><ref>The [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]] series outsold the 1900 series, but many were built as corporate Merlins and purpose-built Expediter freighters. The 19-seat [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] outsold both types, but it is typically used in different operations.</ref> With market trends favoring larger 50- to 90-seat [[regional jet]]s, Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in October 2002. Many airlines continue to fly the 1900.And Sam is DA BOSS


==Design==
==Design==

Revision as of 03:55, 29 October 2010

Beechcraft 1900
An Air Labrador Beechcraft 1900D
Role Regional airliner, cargo, and corporate aircraft
Manufacturer Beechcraft
First flight September 3, 1982[1]
Introduction February 1983
Primary user Great Lakes Airlines
Produced 1982-2002
Number built 695
Developed from Beechcraft Super King Air
Variants C-12J

The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company (now Hawker Beechcraft). It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner. It is also used as a freight aircraft, corporate transport, and by the United States military and other governments.

The aircraft is designed to carry passengers in all weather conditions from airports with relatively short runways. It is capable of flying in excess of 600 miles (970 km), although few operators use its full-fuel range. In terms of the number of aircraft built and its continued use by many passenger airlines and other users, it is one of the most popular 19-passenger airliners in history.[2]

Development

The 1900 is Beechcraft's third regional airliner. The Beechcraft Model 18 was a 6- to 11-passenger utility aircraft produced from 1937 to 1970, used by the military, airlines, charter operations, corporations for executive transport, and freight carriers. The 15-passenger Beechcraft Model 99 Airliner was designed to replace the Beech 18, and was produced from 1966 to 1986. It was also commercially successful and remains in common use with freight airlines such as Ameriflight.

The Beechcraft 1900's design lineage began in 1949 with the Beechcraft Model 50 "Twin Bonanza", a 5 passenger, reciprocating engine utility aircraft designed for the U.S. Army. A larger passenger cabin was added to the Twin Bonanza's airframe, and called the Model 65 "Queen Air." This aircraft was, in turn, further modified by adding turboprop engines and cabin pressurization, and named the Model 90 "King Air." A stretched version of the King Air was later developed and designated the Model 200 "Super King Air". Beechcraft developed the Beechcraft 1900 directly from the Beechcraft Super King Air.

The 1900 first flew on September 3, 1982, with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification awarded in November 1983 under Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 41C airworthiness standards. Like the 1900, the 1900C was certified under SFAR 41C, but the later 1900D version was certified to FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards.[3]

The 1900 entered service in February 1984, with the first ExecLiner corporate version delivered in 1985. A total of 695 Beechcraft 1900 aircraft were built, making the airliner the best-selling 19-passenger airliner in history.[2][4] With market trends favoring larger 50- to 90-seat regional jets, Raytheon ended production of the Beechcraft 1900 in October 2002. Many airlines continue to fly the 1900.And Sam is DA BOSS

Design

A USAF-owned Beechcraft 1900C (UB-42) taxis at Mojave Spaceport on February 1, 2007.
A Sunwest Aviation Beechcraft 1900D at Vancouver International Airport

Since the 1900 is derived from the King Air, all 1900s share certain characteristics with that aircraft. Cockpit controls and operations are similar to those of the King Air. While Federal Aviation Regulations require two pilots for airline operations, the 1900 is designed and certificated for single-pilot operation in corporate or cargo settings, as is the King Air.

Propulsion

The 1900 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engines. The 1900 and 1900C use two PT6A-65B engines, each flat rated at 1,100 shaft horsepower. The 1900D uses two PT6A-67D engines, each rated at 1,279 shaft horsepower.

The propellers are manufactured by Hartzell, with four blades on each propeller. The blades are made from composite materials.

Jet A is the recommended fuel; however the engines are also approved for limited operations on other types of jet fuel or aviation-grade gasoline.[5]

Performance

The 1900D cruises at about 285 knots (328 mph or 528 km/h) true airspeed. Ordinary trip lengths range from 100 to 600 miles (20 minutes to two hours), but with full fuel tanks, the aircraft is capable of flying well in excess of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km). Airlines often prefer the 1900 over jet aircraft for shorter routes due to its fuel efficiency, and because trip times are not significantly longer on distances up to 300 miles (480 km).[5]

The Beechcraft 1900 can operate safely on relatively short airstrips and it can take off and land on grass and rough runways.

The airplane is certified to fly up to an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600 m) above mean sea level with its pressurized cabin.[5] It is designed to operate in most weather conditions, including icing conditions, and it is usually equipped with weather radar to help pilots avoid severe weather.[5] The aircraft can be fitted with an optional lavatory, using space otherwise available for passenger seating and cargo storage.[5]

The Beechcraft 1900 is used by the FAA for its Airline Transport Pilot knowledge test section on operating and performance data. Pilots are tested on center of gravity calculations, takeoff and landing performance and en route fuel burn.

ICAO aircraft designator

The ICAO designator for the 1900 is B190. This is used in ATC flight plans and pilot reports, as well as for aircraft type identification on ATC radar.

Variants

1900

The original design is known simply as the Beechcraft 1900. It features two "airstair" passenger boarding doors: one near the tail of the aircraft much like the smaller King Airs, and a second at the front just behind the cockpit. It has a small cargo door near the tail for access to the baggage compartment, which is behind the passenger compartment. Only three airframes were built, with "UA" serial numbers of UA-1, UA-2, and UA-3. UA-1 and UA-2 are stored at a Beechcraft facility in Wichita, Kansas. As of September 2006, UA-3 is in service with Bolivia's Ministry of National Defence in La Paz.

1900C

It immediately became clear that two airstair doors were redundant on an aircraft holding only 19 passengers. Beechcraft kept the front airstair, but eliminated the aft airstair door, installing an enlarged cargo door in its place. The changed aircraft was renamed 1900C. Other than the redesigned door layout, the early 1900Cs were substantially similar to the original 1900s. These were assigned serial numbers starting with the letters UB. A total of 74 UB version were built, many of which remain in service.[3]

Aircraft in the UA and UB series employ a bladder-type fuel tank system in the wings. Later 1900Cs use a "wet wing" fuel system: entire sections of the wing are sealed off for use as fuel tanks. This design change allowed more fuel to be stored, substantially increasing the 1900C's range. The wet wing 1900Cs were assigned serial numbers beginning with "UC." These aircraft are also referred to as 1900C-1s. The wet wings proved popular, and the UC is the most common version of the low-ceiling 1900, with 174 UC airframes built.[3]

Raytheon manufactured six 1900C aircraft for use by the U.S. military. These were assigned "UD" serial numbers, UD-1 through UD-6.

1900D

Continental Connection CommutAir Beechcraft 1900D
Beechcraft 1900D of the Swiss Air Force
Facing forward in the passenger cabin of a CommutAir Airlines Beechcraft 1900D

While the 1900C had become a popular regional airliner, Beechcraft undertook a substantial redesign of the aircraft, and in 1991 introduced a new version called the 1900D.

The 1900 and 1900C, like most 19-passenger airliners and business jets, have fairly small passenger cabins, with ceilings so low that passengers cannot walk through the interior without bending forward. The 1900D was designed to remedy this by providing a "stand-up cabin," which would allow most passengers to walk upright. It is the only 19-seat airliner with this feature.[3]

Because the taller passenger cabin adds both weight and drag to the airplane, other elements of the 1900D were also changed. More powerful engines and modified propellers were installed, winglets were added to reduce drag and increase the wings' efficiency, and the tail was made larger in response to the more powerful engines. The cockpit was updated with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS). The 1900D was certified under the then-new FAR Part 23 "Commuter Category" standards, which had replaced the earlier SFAR 41C. Since the UD serial numbers were already in use by the military 1900s, the 1900D airplanes have serial numbers beginning with UE. The 1900D is the most popular version of the airliner, with 439 of the 1900D built.[3]

Military C-12J

The U.S. military designation for the Beechcraft 1900C is C-12J. This is a variant of the C-12 Huron, which is the most common designation for military King Airs. The C-12J includes the 6 UD series Beechcraft 1900s built for the U.S. military, as well as other 1900Cs in U.S. military service.

Examples of C-12J aircraft in military service include one used for GPS jamming tests at the 586th Flight Test Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico,[6] and three based at the 459th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan.[2] The U.S. Army operates both C-12J and 1900D aircraft along with other C-12 (King Air) aircraft.[7]

King Air ExecLiner

The King Air ExecLiner was a marketing name for a corporate version of the Beechcraft 1900C.

Operators

Civilian operators

The last 16 Beechcraft 1900D airliners built were sold to Eagle Airways to provide regional services for Air New Zealand.

According to Flight International magazine, 419 1900s remain in airline service as of July 2009, as follows:

139 Raytheon Beech 1900Cs
Major operators include Alpine Air (10) and Ameriflight (20). Some 60 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.[8]
280 Raytheon Beech 1900Ds
Major operators include Air Georgian (18), Avior Airlines (11), Central Mountain Air (11), Eagle Airways (18), Great Lakes Airlines (34), Gulfstream International Airlines (24), Mesa Airlines (17), National Airways (8) and Sonair (10). Some 60 other airlines also operate the type in smaller numbers.[8]

Users

Users
Airline Variants Number Country
Alaska Central Express 1900C 3  United States
Ad Astral Aviation Services 1900C and 1900D 2  Australia
Aero Transporte 1900C and 1900D 2  Peru
Air Creebec 1900D 1  Canada
Air Express Algeria 1900D 6  Algeria
Air Georgian 1900D 15  Canada
Air Labrador 1900D 2  Canada
Air Link 1900D 2  Australia
Air Namibia 1900D 3  Namibia
Air One (Mexico) 1900D and 1900C 2 1900C and 3 1900D  Mexico
Air Serv International 1900C  United States
Alpine Air 1900C and 1900D 1900C: 12 1900D: 1  United States
Ameriflight 1900C 20  United States
Avanti Air 1900D 2  Germany
Avior Airlines 1900D 11  Venezuela
Bering Air 1900D 2  United States
Buddha Air 1900D 4  Nepal
Central Mountain Air 1900D 14  Canada
Chalair Aviation 1900D 3  France
Corporate Air 1900B and 1900C 1900B: 1 1900C: 2  United States
Eagle Airways 1900D 18  New Zealand
Era Aviation 1900D 3  United States
EVAS (Exploits Valley Air Service) 1900D 3  Canada
Falcon Express Cargo Airlines 1900C Cargo 4  United Arab Emirates
FlyJet 1900D 3  France
Frontier Flying Service 1900C 12  United States
Gulfstream International Airlines 1900D 45  United States
Guna Airline 1900D and 1900C 2 1900C and 1 1900D  Nepal
Great Lakes Airlines 1900D 30  United States
Korea Express Air 1900D 2  South Korea
Maverick Airlines 1900D 2  United States
Medavia 1900D 2  United States
Menard, Inc. 1900D 3  United States
National Airways 1900D and 1900C 1900D: 12 1900C: 5  South Africa
Nextjet 1900D  Sweden
North Cariboo Air 1900D and 1900C 1900D: 2 1900C: 2  Canada
Northern Air Charters 1900D 1  Canada
Northern Thunderbird Air 1900D and 1900C 1900D: 2 1900C: 3  Canada
Pacific Coastal Airlines 1900C 6  Canada
Pet Airways 1900 20  United States
Pineapple Air 1900C and 1900D 1900C : 2 1900D : 1  Bahamas
Portugalia Airlines 1900D 2  Portugal
Prince Edward Air 1900C 3  Canada
Private Wings Flugcharter 1900D 2  Germany
Pronto Airways 1900C  Canada
Propair 1900C 1  Canada
Sunwest Aviation 1900D 5  Canada
SAEREO 1900C 2  Ecuador
SkyBahamas 1900 1  Bahamas
Skylink Express 1900C 6  Canada
TAC Colombia 1900D 2  Colombia
Tassili Airlines 1900D 3  Algeria
Searca 1900D and 1900C 15  Colombia
Transwest Air 1900D 1  Canada
Travira Air 1900D 6  Indonesia
Vincent Aviation 1900C and 1900D 1900C 1 and 1900D 1  New Zealand
Vincent Aviation 1900C and 1900D 1900C 2 and 1900D 4  Australia
Wasaya Airways 1900D 6  Canada
Western Air 1900C 2  Bahamas

Military operators

Military and government operators include:[9]

 Algeria
 Australia
 Bolivia
  • Ministry of National Defence
 Colombia
 Egypt
 France
 Republic of China
 Switzerland
 Thailand
 United Arab Emirates
 United Nations
 United States

Accidents and incidents

  • November 23 1987: A Ryan Air 1900 crashed on approach to Homer, AK airport. Flight 103 was fully loaded (all 19 seats occupied; 1437 pounds of cargo) when it took off from Kodiak runway 07. The aircraft lifted off the runway, fell back and accelerated for about another 15 knots before it became airborne. The aircraft was approaching Homer when it was cleared for the localizer/DME approach to runway 3. The crew reported a 2-mile final 5 minutes later. On short final the wings were seen to rock back and forth; the aircraft then dropped steeply to the ground in a rather flat attitude, struck the airport perimeter fence and slid to a stop on its belly. Probable cause - "the failure of the flight crew to properly supervise the loading of the airplane which resulted in the centre of gravity being displaced to such an aft location that the airplane control was lost when the flaps were lowered for landing."[10]
  • December 28, 1991: A Business Express Airlines 1900C crashed during a training flight when the instructor refused to take back the controls when the students became disoriented due to heavily stressing conditions imposed by the instructor, against the company's flight manual. This conclusion was controversial, as an investigation by the Airline Pilots Association showed that there were many indications of catastrophic airframe failure, not due to pilot error. [11][12][13]
  • January 3, 1992: CommutAir Flight 4821, a 1900C operating for USAir Express flying from Plattsburgh to Saranac Lake, crashed into a wooded mountaintop as it was landing at Adirondack Regional Airport. Of the four people on board (two passengers and two crew), two were killed while the other two sustained serious injuries.[14]
  • December 7, 1995: An Air St. Martin 1900D drifted off course and crashed into a mountain in Haiti, killing all 21 people on board.[15]
  • November 19, 1996: A United Express 1900C collided on a runway with a Beechcraft King Air at Quincy Regional Airport in Illinois, killing all 14 people on board both aircraft.[16]
  • August 12, 1999: A Regionnair 1900D crashed on approach to Sept-Îles Airport in Quebec due to pilot error; the pilot was killed while three others were injured.[17]
  • January 8, 2003: Air Midwest Flight 5481, a 1900D crashed into a hangar just after takeoff from Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, killing all 21 people on board.[18]
  • August 26, 2003: Colgan Air Flight 9446, a Beech 1900D operated for US Airways Express hit the water shortly after taking off from Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Both pilots died.[19]
  • March 15, 2008: A Wings Aviation 1900D crashed while attempting to land at Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria killing all 3 crew members.[20]
  • May 2, 2008: A South Sudan Air Connection 1900 leased from CEM Air crashed, killing 22 people including Southern Sudan's Minister of Defense.[21][22]
  • November 9, 2009: A Blue Bird Aviation cargo 1900D crashed at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, Kenya, killing one of the two crew members.[23]
  • January 22, 2010: An Alaska Central Express 1900C lost height shortly after departure from Sand Point, Alaska and impacted the sea. Both pilots were killed.[24]

Specifications (Beechcraft 1900D)

Data from Beechcraft 1900D Airplane Flight Manual

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 (2 in airline operations)
  • Capacity: 19 passengers + 2 crew
  • Fuel Capacity: 4,484 lb.
  • Fuel type: Jet A recommended, others usable.

Performance Avionics

References

  1. ^ Jackson, 2003.
  2. ^ a b c C-12J overview, GlobalSecurity.org
  3. ^ a b c d e 1900 Airliner model information from Raytheon Aircraft Services' web site
  4. ^ The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner series outsold the 1900 series, but many were built as corporate Merlins and purpose-built Expediter freighters. The 19-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter outsold both types, but it is typically used in different operations.
  5. ^ a b c d e Beechcraft 1900D Aircraft Flight Manual, Raytheon Aircraft Corporation
  6. ^ Holloman Air Force Base fact sheet
  7. ^ U.S. Army Aviation website
  8. ^ a b Flight International 2009 World Airliner Census
  9. ^ Beech 1900 image database from Airliners.net
  10. ^ http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19871123-0
  11. ^ http://www.iprr.org/comps/AAR93intro.html
  12. ^ Instructor blamed in mystery crash
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ Aviation Safety Network accident synopsis
  15. ^ 1995 Air St. Martin Beech 1900 crash
  16. ^ NTSB Report: United Express Flight 5925
  17. ^ Commuter Aircraft Strikes Terrain During Unstabilized, Homemade Approach
  18. ^ Air Midwest Flight 5481
  19. ^ "UPDATE ON NTSB INVESTIGATIONS INTO RECENT BEECH 1900D ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS." National Transportation Safety Board. November 21, 2003. Retrieved on February 13, 2009.
  20. ^ Missing plane, dead crew found in Obudu
  21. ^ Engine fault caused Sudan crash
  22. ^ Correction: South Sudan declares three-day mourning for crash victims Sudan Tribune 3 May 2008
  23. ^ aviation-safety.net: Accident description
  24. ^ National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report of accident involving Beechcraft 1900C registration N112AX retrieved 2010-03-29
  25. ^ (1,353 equivalent shaft horsepower, including thrust from jet exhaust), 3,950 foot-pounds Torque
  26. ^ Mmo = Mach 0.48 to 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
  • Jackson, Paul (2003). "Beech 1900D". Jane's All the World's Aircraft. 2003–2004: p. 535–536. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  • Phillips, Edward H. Beechcraft - Pursuit of Perfection, A History of Beechcraft Airplanes. Flying Books, Eagan, Minnesota 1992.ISBN 0-911139-11-7

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists