(7) Special Items

The following table summarizes the components of the Company's special items, for the year ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):


	Year ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Special items:
CRJ200 aircraft related items 1	$	—	$	—	$	424,466
ERJ145 aircraft related items 2		—		—		41,183
Total special items	$	—	$	—	$	465,649

(1)

Consists primarily of inventory valuation charges and impairment charges to write-down CRJ200 aircraft including related long-lived assets to their estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the long-lived assets, including the aircraft and fixed asset spare parts inventory, was based on third-party appraisals on the assets. These values were estimated based on listed market values or recent third-party market transactions for similar assets. Additionally, the Company estimated the fair value of certain long-lived prepaid lease assets using the net present value of estimated current CRJ200 lease rates. All fair values are considered to be Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Of the special items $184.3 million related to SkyWest Airlines and $240.2 million related to ExpressJet. These charges are net of $90 million in cash proceeds and other considerations from the Bombardier termination agreement. These special items are reflected in the SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet operating expenses under Note 2 Segment Reporting.

(2)

The ERJ145 aircraft related items recorded in the 2016 special charge consist primarily of inventory valuation charges and impairment charges to write-down certain ERJ145 long-lived assets, which primarily consisted of spare engines and ERJ145 spare aircraft parts, to their estimated fair value of $41.2 million. The estimated fair value of the long-lived assets was based on third-party appraisals and valuations for similar assets which is considered an unobservable input (Level 3) under the fair value hierarchy. These special items are reflected in the ExpressJet operating expenses under Note 2 Segment Reporting.