The SAAB 2000 is a twin-engine transport aircraft with a max payload of 5900 kg or up to 2 crew and 58 passengers.
Development studies on a 47 to 58-seat commuter airliner based on the SAAB 340 design started in 1985. Development
of the SAAB 2000, a high-speed regional turboprop based on the SAAB 340 design, started in 1988 when Crossair
ordered 25 SAAB 2000 airliners, with an option on a further 25. Development of the SAAB 2000 was done in cooperation
with the launching customer Crossair from Switzerland. Production of the
first prototype began in 1990. Several European aerospace firms participated in the Saab 2000
manufacturing program including CASA, Westland and Valmet of Finland. The Saab 2000's first flight took place
on March 26 1992, and certification in Europe was granted in March 1994.
Certification by the FAA followed in April 1994. The SAAB 2000 entered airliner services in 1994 with Crossair.
The Saab 2000 is a fast turboprop airliner with a cruise speed of over 665km/h.
Lack of sales and profitability forced Saab to cease the 2000 production with just 63 aircraft built.
The last SAAB 2000 was delivered to Crossair in April 1999.
The SAAB 2000 s/n 2000-006 flew first on 9 June 1993, and was delivered to Crossair as HB-IZC.
After the defunct of Swissair and the founding of the new Swiss airliner the HB-IZC was transferred
to Swiss International Airlines. In 2003, the aircraft entered service with Soder Air in Finland and was registered OH-SRC.
On 10 April 2005, the SAAB was registered G-CDKA in the UK with Air Kilroe Ltd., trading as
Eastern Airways. When the G-CDKA visited Groningen Airport on a charter to Stavanger on 5 July 2006, it was painted
in special colours to promote Aberdeen City and Shire. These colours will be on the plane for 6 months.
Eastern Airways is a regular visitor at Groningen Airport Eelde, as they operate on Monday and Friday
a private service Norwich-Groningen vv flown with the Jetstream 41.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
