What would it take to break up the duopoly?  A lot of money, strong aftermarket support, and a healthy dose of insanity.

Ross Mitchell of MHIRJ joins us on the Time on Wing Podcast to discuss his history in the regional space.

The conversation also touches on the challenges of flying gliders and the transition to powered airplanes. Ross discusses his transition from contracts to marketing at Bombardier and shares insights into the aviation industry during the early 2000s, including campaigns and the factors that influenced airline decisions. The conversation covers various topics related to the aviation industry, including the shortage of maintenance technicians, the future of regional aircraft, and the longevity of the CRJ-700. Ross Mitchell, from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Regional Jet (MHIRJ), discusses the challenges of recruiting maintenance technicians and the need to promote the career to younger generations. He also mentions that the CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 will continue to be in service for a long time due to their economic performance and lack of a suitable replacement. The conversation highlights the importance of maintaining smaller markets and the impact of aircraft retirements on those communities.

We explore the importance of regional aircraft in the aviation industry and the challenges they face. It highlights the misconception that regional aircraft have shorter lifespans compared to larger aircraft and emphasizes their role in connecting passengers to long-haul flights. The discussion also touches on the difficulty of breaking up the narrow-body duopoly and the importance of aftermarket support in the success of new aircraft. The conversation concludes with insights into the business aircraft market and the differences in selling luxury aircraft compared to commercial aircraft.