Bombardier Aerospace today announced that the CSeries jetliner program has captured 50(i) per cent of net orders in the 100- to 149-seat market segment over the last two years. The program is on schedule for entry into service in 2013.
While the transition from the Joint Definition Phase to the Detailed Design Phase (DDP) has been ongoing since early in 2010, the CSeries aircraft program is now fully engaged in DDP. Bombardier has now begun releasing design datasets (drawings) to fabrication and production for the first ground and flight test aircraft.
Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast has completed the ultimate load test on the CSeries aircraft composite demonstrator wing, successfully replicating 150 per cent of the most severe forces the wing is ever likely to experience in service. The Belfast operation is responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the complete wing for the CSeries aircraft, including all flight control surfaces and high lift systems. Production of the CSeries aircraft wings is due to get under way early in 2011 in a new 55,742 m2 (600,000 ft2), purpose-built factory in Belfast, the first phase of which is nearing completion.
The aluminum-lithium fuselage test barrel, which arrived in Saint-Laurent, Quebec from China in August 2009, has successfully completed 60,000 fatigue cycles. Findings from the advanced test fuselage will be used by the design team to optimize the final production design.
Development wind tunnel tests conducted in ONERA F1 (Toulouse, France), ETW (Cologne, Germany) and ARA (Bedford, UK) are now complete and have confirmed the CSeries aircraft's overall performance benefits. Detailed wind tunnel tests will continue throughout 2010 and final production wind tunnel tests will be conducted in 2011.
The Complete Integrated Aircraft Systems Test Area (CIASTA), located in Mirabel, 45 minutes north of Montreal, is progressing on schedule. The CIASTA is a systems-testing integration facility that will house a virtual CSeries test aircraft. The CIASTA building is now complete and the testing and rig infrastructure installation is in progress. The CIASTA will test aircraft systems for reliability and functionality one year before first flight and will continue to support systems integration during the flight test program.
On March 24, 2010 Bombardier announced the start of construction of the facility that will build the fuselage for the CSeries aircraft. This event was marked with a foundation stone-laying ceremony at the site in Shenyang, China. The 21,000 m2 (226,042 ft2) facility will be operated by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned aviation industrial entity, China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC). SAC is a key supplier in the Bombardier CSeries aircraft program.
The CSeries jetliner will meet its stated game-changing design objectives and airlines' requirements for more economical, flexible (transcontinental range and short-field capability) and passenger-oriented aircraft. The aircraft will benefit airlines by taking advantage of the latest technologies available for a 2013 entry-into-service. As the only modern aircraft specifically designed for the 100- to 149-seat market segment, the CSeries airliner will fill a critical need for modern aircraft with an unmatched environmental scorecard.
The CSeries aircraft will emit 20(ii) per cent less CO2 and 50(ii) per cent less NOx, fly four(ii) times quieter, and deliver dramatic energy savings - 20(ii) per cent fuel burn advantage as well as 15(ii) per cent improved cash operating costs versus current in-production aircraft of similar size. Therefore, the CSeries aircraft will contribute greatly to airlines' sustainability and future growth.
Since the CSeries aircraft program was announced at the Farnborough Airshow in 2008, Bombardier has recorded firm orders from Deutsche Lufthansa, Lease Corporation International and Republic Airways for a total of 33 CS100 and 57 CS300 aircraft. Options have been placed on a total of 90 additional CSeries aircraft.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2010, were $19.4 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
(i) Bombardier's calculation of its share in the 100 - to 149-seat market segment is based on net firm orders disclosed by manufacturers' between July 13 2008 and July 12 2010.
(ii) The CSeries aircraft are in the design phase. All data and specifications are estimates, subject to change in family strategy, branding, capacity and performance during the design, manufacture and certification process. Performance has been estimated based on a 500-nm North American operating environment.
Bombardier, CS100, CS300 and CSeries are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Note to Editors
Images of CSeries aircraft are available in the press releases section at: www.aero.bombardier.com
Contacts:
Bombardier Aerospace
John Arnone
+1-416-375-3030
www.bombardier.com