Bombardier News

As Bombardier suggested a last month and earlier this month, the CSeries CS100 has been granted full type certification. It received the Transport Canada Type Certification following a comprehensive and rigorous testing program, which included more than 3,000 flight test hours, the validation of thousands of test results and the authentication of extensive design and performance data. Obtaining the Type Certificate for the CS100 aircraft paves the way for the delivery and entry into service of the CS100 aircraft with first operator SWISS in Q2 2016.

Photo by Patrick Cardinal

Following the certification of the CSeries CS100, Bombardier announced that Transport Canada, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have awarded Interim Level C qualification on the full-flight simulator (FFS), and qualified the flight training device (FTD) for the all-new CS100 aircraft.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that its all-new C Series aircraft program has begun the ramp-up to full production. The final assembly facility is fully equipped and production is progressing according to plan with aircraft in various stages of the build sequence. Additionally, Bombardier also confirmed that the CS100 aircraft that is scheduled to be delivered to first operator SWISS International Air Lines (SWISS) and enter service in Q2 2016 is structurally complete.Yesterday, SWISS’ flight crews kicked off their CS100 aircraft flight training in Mirabel, Québec where they will undergo intensive training to prepare for the route-proving flights they will operate alongside Bombardier’s flight crew when the CS100 route-proving aircraft flies to Europe in the coming weeks. This follows the completion of the North American route-proving program that included more than 35 cities. During the program, the CS100 aircraft conducted flights using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that it had reached another milestone with the successful completion of the CS100 aircraft’s European route-proving exercises. The program was conducted in the network of launch operator Swiss International Air Lines (“SWISS”) and included over 30 city-pair flights in European cities over a three-week long period. During an event in Zurich, today, executive representatives from SWISS and Bombardier provided details and results about the route-proving program – which used a dedicated CS100 aircraft as Bombardier readies to deliver the first CS100 aircraft in June 2016 and SWISS readies for the aircraft’s entry-into-service (EIS).

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic Corporation AS (airBaltic) has converted its remaining seven option aircraft to firm. This latest order brings airBaltic’s total firm order to 20 CS300 aircraft. This agreement follows the airline’s conversion of three option aircraft announced in February 2014. The original order for 10 firm CS300 aircraft with options for another 10 was announced on December 20, 2012. The Riga-based airline will be the first customer in the world to operate the CS300 aircraft when it takes delivery in the second half of 2016 – an excellent companion to its existing 12 Q400 aircraft.

Bombardier is reportedly in the final stages of securing a mega deal with Delta Airlines for its CSeries aircraft. If cemented, the order could be worth as much as 6.2 billion dollars. The deal encompasses 75 aircraft with options for 50 more totally 125 aircraft if all options were exercised. Delta Airlines is looking to replace several of its aircraft in the near future. Note that the CSeries is a single-aisle aircraft .

Go around and missed approach all in one

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today disclosed that Trident Jet (Jersey) Limited, a sister company of Falko Regional Aircraft Limited, is the previously unidentified customer that signed the firm purchase agreement for eight CRJ900 aircraft and six options announced in October 2015. The aircraft are assigned to and operated by CityJet on a wet lease basis – which means it provides aircraft and crews -- on behalf of SAS (Scandinavian Airlines). Additionally, Bombardier announced today that Trident Jet (Jersey) Limited has exercised four of its options also to be operated by CityJet. Based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, the value of the exercised options for four CRJ900 aircraft is approximately $183.9 million US.

Delta Air Lines has signed the largest Bombardier C-Series order to-date for a massive -up to- 125 aircraft from the Canadian airframer. It includes firm orders for 75 CS100s to start with an options for 50 more of the same type. There is also an option to convert some of the optioned CS100 to CS300s at a later date is needed. Based on the current list prices for the CS100, the firm order for the 75 CS100s is valued at around 5.6 billion USD. “As we reshape our fleet for the future, the innovative onboard experience of the C Series is a perfect complement for the top-notch service provided every day by Delta people,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s incoming chief executive. “These new aircraft are a solid investment, allowing us to take advantage of superior operating economics, network flexibility and best-in-class fuel performance.”

Attendees at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, California will have a unique opportunity to tour the impressive full-scale mock-up of Bombardier’s innovative Global 7000 business jet. The life-size mock-up, which will be displayed adjacent to the conference headquarters at the Beverly Hilton Hotel from May 1-4, 2016, showcases the aircraft’s stylish and precedent-setting four-zone interior. This is the first time an aircraft mock-up has been displayed at the conference.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced recently that a customer, who has requested to remain unidentified at this time, has signed a firm purchase agreement for 10 CRJ900 aircraft. Based on the list price of the CRJ900 aircraft, the firm agreement is valued at approximately $472 million US. “The modern and fuel efficient CRJ900 aircraft continues to maintain its solid footing and set industry benchmarks with its lower operating costs, outstanding operational flexibility and enhanced cabin amenities,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “These are key drivers for the growth, profitability and success of airlines around the world and we are delighted that the CRJ900 aircraft is creating excellent value for a wide variety of operators with diverse business requirements.”

Bombardier's CSeries CS300 has gained type certification from Transport Canada. Delivery of the first CS300 airliner to airBaltic of Latvia is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016; the aircraft is currently in production at the C Series production facility in Mirabel, Québec. The approval follows the CS100 aircraft Type Certification awarded by Transport Canada and validations for that aircraft model by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The CS100 aircraft will enter revenue service with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) on July 15, 2016.

It appears that Qatar Executive is looking to ramp it its fleet with Gulfstream aircraft. This also means that they plan to dump a number of the Bombardier aircraft they currently operate.

Bombardier should be fairly happy with achievements in terms of the efforts relating to their Customer Response Team (CRT). Since being launched in 2013, the CRT attended to 4,000 events across the United States and Europe.

Record-breaking Bombardier aircraft...according to Bombardier

Bombardier celebrates 40 years of heavy aircraft maintenance operations in Tucson, Arizona


Bombardier is pleased to celebrate its 40th year of operations in Tucson, Arizona. Occupying almost 1 million square feet (92,900 square meters) of total hangar space, the Tucson Air Center is the largest of Bombardier’s nine Aircraft Service Centers and services both Bombardier commercial and business aircraft, and employs over 900 engineers, technicians and staff in the region. Since opening in 1976, the facility has been located at Tucson International Airport, a strategic location and a key local partner. “Our 40th year in Tucson is an important milestone,” said Tim McGuire, General Manager, Tucson Service Center, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “It is a testament to our longstanding partnership with Tucson International Airport, to our dedicated employees – some of whom have been with us since the very start – as well as to our Service Center’s extensive capabilities and prime location, offering flexibility and convenience for Bombardier business aircraft operators. We look forward to many more years of operations in Tucson.”

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced a few days ago that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded Type Validation to Bombardier’s CS300 aircraft. The validation is a requirement for the aircraft’s operation in Europe and a precursor to first delivery to CS300 launch operator, airBaltic of Latvia. Bombardier’s first CS300 aircraft delivery to airBaltic is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016. EASA’s validation follows the CS300 aircraft Type Certification awarded by Transport Canada in July 2016.

Bombardier has powered on the GE Aviation Passport engines on its Global 7000 business jet, and says it is on target to fly the ultra-long-range type in the fourth quarter of this year. Global 7000 serial number 70001 – the first of four test articles that are in various stages of production – is registered as C-GLBO and will make its maiden sortie from Bombardier’s Downsview, Toronto facility before heading to Wichita, Kansas to begin its flight test campaign. (FG)

Bombardier expects to receive certification for its CS100 to operate into London City Airport. Many of you know that London City is a steep approach airport and not every aircraft can handle that steep path into the airport. Once manufacturers can gain validation into this airport they tend to feel even better about the machine they created. Bombardier expects to conduct tests towards the end of November and then hopefully gain certification by the termination of 2016.