I’m slowly learning how to fly the CRJ. Today I did a 500-mi IRF flight where everything went well except this: my cruise altitude (as determined by MSFS) was FL400. I climbed to FL300 smoothly, but once I got beyond that the aircraft really started struggling to climb. I lost airspeed quickly and even at max power I could barely climb. Finally I asked ATC to give me a lower cruise altitude and settled at FL300.  
 

What’s also strange is that the aircraft would struggle, struggle and then for about a minute or so it would start performing better.  I’d gain a couple thousand feet but then it would start struggling again. 
 

I had power on the climb detent initially, only taking it to max when I started to hit this wall. 
 

Am I missing any important step? A setting or a procedure?

 

thanks 

I've not had an issue like this with the CRJ. My best guess is maybe FL400 was too high for your current weight. If you haven't already, maybe try using SimBrief for your flight planning or a tool of similar caliber.

Just for reference, even on shorter routes, about an hour or so, I have only gotten cruise levels from SimBrief that top out at about FL340 with a realistic payload.

Top tip - did you have Anti ice switched on?  Performance is really sluggish in the upper FL's with AI on.  I had this same issue the other night and realised I'd left AI on after the breakout through the clouds.  If its not that then yea check your weights etc and use the correct simbrief profile.

How the aircraft behaves with AI on is different to other jets I believe, its all in the excellent documentation that comes shipped worth reading it on the toilet like I do!  🙂

Edited June 6, 20215 yr by sidfadc

Service ceiling is like fl410, doubt it wants to be that high especially on the normal length hops the CRJ does. Mid 30’s is usually a good place to be depending on weight/distance.

you was too high, do not pass FL380 to stay safe...

 

 

oh, I forgot, pay attention to the de-ice systems, it uses hot air bleeds from the engines reducing your thrust

Straight from the FlyByWire A320NX discord:

"There are currently major issues with outside temperatures when using MSFS Live Weather, which are affecting the climb performance of users flying the A32NX using this option. We recommend switching to a weather preset for the time being while MS sorts out the issues."

I imagine the same bug would affect all aircraft, so try again with a weather preset and see how that turns out.

On 6/5/2021 at 5:38 PM, andradef said:

I’m slowly learning how to fly the CRJ. Today I did a 500-mi IRF flight where everything went well except this: my cruise altitude (as determined by MSFS) was FL400. I climbed to FL300 smoothly, but once I got beyond that the aircraft really started struggling to climb. I lost airspeed quickly and even at max power I could barely climb. Finally I asked ATC to give me a lower cruise altitude and settled at FL300.  

In addition to what others have said, there's a placard under, I think, the MFD...that has max altitude for ISA deviation and weight. It's in KGs, so you have to convert, and you also need to know the ISA dev (simbrief will give this for a given route, but also as mentioned there are some issues with high altitude OAT values right now).

Unless you're flying basically empty, 40k will be too high, and with a full load, 38k will only work if you have < 6000 lbs of fuel, roughly.

So the short answer is don't go above 36k, and be sure to climb in SPEED mode. I climb at 320/0.77, so set SPEED to 320 after 10,000' and then reset it to M0.77 when you reach the crossover altitude, about 27,000' for 320 and keep it at .77 and CLB power until you reach cruise altitude. Do NOT try to climb in high altitudes with VS mode.

Edited June 7, 20215 yr by cwburnett

What cwburnett said...

"so set SPEED to 320 after 10,000' and then reset it to M0.77 when you reach the crossover altitude". - very important otherwise you're trying to maintain 320 IAS which will become increasingly difficult as the aircraft continues to climb above the crossover altitude. At FL410 I doubt it would be possible to get the CRJ any faster than around 250-270 kt. indicated in level flight, let alone in a climb.

I have had this bug too.  In addition to what others have said, I recommend that you not hit escape (pause) during your flight. Doing so seems to trigger the climb performance issue for me every time in the CRJ.

I find that Simbrief is always giving FL390 or FL400 for the CRJ.  I have been correcting to FL300 to FL330 and have had no issues although good use of anti-ice is required in climb out and turned off at higher leves.

I've had this too. Once you get too slow (around 200-220 knots) you are about to stall and will lose all aerodynamic performance. You have to take a dive and pick up enough speed, and then go back climbing while keeping a high speed. There is no other way to get out of it, even if you use MAX thrust.

As for the actual reason for becoming tooslow:

1. Throttle not in CLB detent
2. Too heavy / too high cruise level (only relevant above 40000 feet)
3. Engine anti-ice left on above 30000 feet (usually not necessary, since SAT will be below -40 C), this really eats up thrust

For me it has been always number three.

Be aware that the CRJ climbs really slow after 25000 feet, so it is a fine line between a steady 300 fpm climb and becoming dangerously slow.

Edited June 11, 20215 yr by Fiorentoni