Launch order for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet from All Nippon Airways

A high-risk venture of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is all set to take off after domestic carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), placed a launch order for 15 Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJ) along with options for another 10. The order follows a month and a half of deliberations by ANA's new aircraft selection committee, which placed its findings before the ANA board.

According to the airline, it based its decision on safety, overall economy, operational and environmental performance and passenger comfort.

The Mitsubishi MRJ is a passenger jet aircraft which will seat 70-96 passengers. It is also expected to be the first regional jet aircraft to adopt composite materials for its airframe on a significant scale. Mitsubishi is currently involved in producing composite wings for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Scheduled for certification in 2012, the MRJ would also become the first platform for Pratt & Whitney's new fuel-efficient geared turbofan engine.

Mitsubishi has selected five companies as partners to provide major systems for the MRJ.

The five partner suppliers consist of three US and two Japanese companies:

• Parker Aerospace: Hydraulic systems
• Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation: Electric power systems, air management system, auxiliary power   unit, inert gas system, high-lift actuation system, and fire and overheat protection system
•  Rockwell Collins: Flight control system
• Nabtesco Corporation: Flight control system
• Sumitomo Precision Product Co. Ltd: Landing gear

MHI has already selected Pratt & Whitney's next-generation Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines.

This will be Japan and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' first commercial airplane since 1973, when production ended for the YS-11. This was Japan's first indigenously built aircraft after World War II.