ERJ140 - American Eagle

[TraderDude]

Have to fly Chicago Midway to New York LGA over Thanksgiving on an American Eagle ERJ140. I've never been on a regional type jet like an ERJ or CRJ. Are they as safe as the heavies? Are the pilots as qualified? Will the ride be noisier or bumpier? Will I be cramped? I am interested in trying a new kind of plane but anxious of the unknown. Just need some reassurance that when people say commercial flying is the safest transportation around, they are including my flight on an ERJ140. Thanks.

[jesgooch]

"Are they as safe as the heavies? Are the pilots as qualified? Will the ride be noisier or bumpier? Will I be cramped? "

Hi!

The ERJ/CRJ's are just as safe as any larger jet. The pilots are all qualified and professional. I find the ride to be a little zippier while taxing, less time on the runway during takeoff and just as smooth as most other planes. Sitting near the front may be a bit quieter as these are rear engine planes.

I have flown on them many times and I really really like them. If you are a big guy you may be a little cramped as there is no first class, but the bright side is you can't get stuck in an iasle seat :)

I really like these smaller jets.

Jess

[Barry11702]

Usually I fly on the EMB-145 regional. Same type of plane. Pretty smooth flight. Been 18 years since I flew on a big plane so I can't really compare them. When you go talk to the FA about meeting the pilots as soon as you board. They let me stand up by the cockpit while everyone else was boarding and I asked them what they thought of the plane, told them I was a nervous flier, etc. They were very nice and introduced themselves and they basically made me feel much better.

And yes the crews are professional, and they told me the planes are new and great to fly.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

First of all, WELCOME TraderDude and Barry to the board. :welcome

ERJs and CRJs are very safe means of air travel. I LOVE to fly on the RJs. They are quick and speedy. I agree with Barry to MEET THE PILOT. :ray That is the most important thing I ever did to put my mind at ease.

The crews are very professional (same as all commercial pilots and crew) and have LOTS of flying time under their belt. :airplane

I wouldn't hesitate to fly on an ERJ. I have 4 more CRJ flights booked this month and 8 booked for next month.

We have a CRJ pilot on the board so if you have any specific questions ask away! I'm sure he will check in when he can to answer your questions.

Thanks!
Kelley

[xiknal]

Hi, Barry and TraderDude!
Oh and Bronze Elephant, too...I haven't waved at you yet. :wave
Welcome, all!

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Oops forgot to answer this part of the question: will it be noisier or bumpier or cramped?

Some noises you may be more aware of on the RJs than on some of the larger aircraft - you can definitely hear the THUMP as the landing gear raises and locks in place and if you are sitting in the first row or 2 you can hear some of the cockpit noises. The bumps depend on the air more than on the aircraft. You may feel more of the little bumps on an RJ than on a 777 but turbulence is turbulence - you will feel it on any plane you are on.

As far as cramped, personally I am not as cramped on a CRJ as I am in the middle seat of a 757. Good news is there are NO MIDDLE SEATS on the RJs :jump Every seat is a window or aisle! The Comair jets (Delta connection carrier) that I am usually on have nice leather seats too so they are extra comfy. If you can, try to book the exit row for extra legroom.

I used to have "small plane phobia" but once I tried these planes I was hooked on them and now go out of my way to fly on the RJs. :airplane

Kelley

[EditorASC]

We have some more information on RJs at our MSN forum, at:

groups.msn.com/FearofFlyi...l_topics=0 (http://groups.msn.com/FearofFlyingForum/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=2502&LastModified=4675490604287396733&all_topics=0)

:dragonslayer

[MadScientist]

The bumps depend on the air more than on the aircraft. You may feel more of the little bumps on an RJ than on a 777 but turbulence is turbulence - you will feel it on any plane you are on.

This is the TRUTH. I've seen a lot of posts where people ask if a certain plane is more smooth versus another type. Kelley is dead on with her answer. ALL planes fly smooth. It's just a matter of bumpy AIR not the plane. Now, smaller planes will get bumped around easier than the great big planes but the big planes will bump too.

As someone who flies everything from 19 seat turboprops to the larger jets, I can tell you it's all about the air and the weather when it comes to a smooth flight. The ERJs are great planes and I think you'll enjoy the ride.

Enjoy the flight!

[noflyingfan]

The ERJ is a very nice plane, unless you have long legs. Chicago to New York probably won't be that long a flight, right? (I flew Chicago to Buffalo and it was less than an hour, so I figure to LGA can't be more than an hour and a half at most). On those shorter runs, the legroom isn't as much of an issue, but you certainly aren't going to be able to stretch.

I like to think of the ERJ as a Toyota Corolla. It's little, well-built and safe, but if you don't have the front two seats, you're SOL for leg room.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

You've got an extra inch or two of leg room in the exit row, Erika. I always try to sit there! At 5'11" I need all the help I can get.

Oh and not sure about other carriers but on Delta when you fly on the RJs you check your larger wheeled carry-ons at the gate (as you get on the plane) and they hand you your bag back as you deplane. My rolling leather briefcase barely fits in the overhead bins of the MD-88 (and only on the 3 seat side) so I LOVE checking it on the RJs - that much less for me to lug up the stairs.

Kelley

[noflyingfan]

Yes, they do have the room in the exit row. I should have mentioned that.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Yes but chances are if you ask to Meet the Pilot and tell them you are a fearful flyer :shocked they won't let you sit in the Exit row! (The FAs give you the safety spiel when you sit in the exit row about opening the door and helping others out... if they think you might freak out :wired then they sure won't put you in that position of responsibility).

Just something to keep in mind... When you get to the gate you can ask for the front rows for more leg room. They usually assign those at the gate so the earlier you are there the better chance you have of getting those.

:)
Kelley

[noflyingfan]

I've heard that that happens, and I guess I can see the point, but I think it's a little silly. I'm sure there are some fearful flyers who would panic, but you'd think that one of us "educated" fearful flyers might be good to have up there. We're scared, but we probably know better than most flyers what is what and what you do in an emergency. Heck, I even pay attention to the safety demos! And even if the person in the exit row did panic, do you think everybody else would say, "oh, she's not going to open the door, guess we'll just sit back down."

I am reminded of the words of the comedian Mitch Hedberg. "As long as you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit."

[Passenger Mark]

What Ken said about it all being about the air, not the aircraft is true.

I flew on a CRJ from Southern California to Dallas, and then from Dallas to New Orleans, and returns. Did that in May, and then on a 747-400 in August, with 737s in between.

They all had bumps and jiggles...

But the CRJ rides seemed to "skip" on the bumps. Maybe my imgination, but It seemed like a sports car.

When comparing the CRJ to the 747 I thought of it as a sports car riding on a rough road compared to a Mack truck!