Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) has announced that Falko Regional Aircraft Limited (Falko) has signed two Letters of Intent (LOIs) in relation to the purchase of up to 24 firm Bombardier CS100 mainline jets.
Falko has recently placed Bombardier CRJ900 and CRJ900 NextGen aircraft with long-time Bombardier customers Mesa Airlines Inc. and Adria Airways, and has also acquired Q400 aircraft on lease to Croatia Airlines.
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com.
Odyssey Airlines (UK) (London-City Airport) further to our previous reports, is a paper airline that is now planning to use crowdsourcing to raise its operating capital in order to begin operationsย from London City Airport in 2016 with Bombardier CSeries aircraft. The airline was incorporated in September 2010 and its registered director is Adam Scott, born 1979, who is also listed as a director for Calypso Aviation.
As we previously reported,ย Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) disclosed that a previously announced firm order for 10 Bombardier CS100 aircraft was placed by Odyssey Airlines. The firm order was announced on June 24, 2011.
The would-be airline describes itself this way:
Odyssey Airlines will begin offering premium nonstop business class services direct from London City Airport to other major cities worldwide from 2016. Planned destinations include convenient and easy to access city centre airports in North America, the Middle East, and beyond.
Steeped in airline experience, the Odyssey team includes executives from other full-service and premium-only airlines. Odyssey will deliver convenient city centre departures, stress-free on ground experiences, nonstop routes, and exceptional service from door to door. Odyssey has been developed specifically with the time-conscious traveller in mind.
Utilizing an innovative seat configuration, Odyssey will operate the more fuel-efficient and greener Bombardier CSeries jet aircraft. The experience will be more akin to that of a private jet, including an all-new interior configuration, windows that are 40% larger than other aircraft, the longest fully flat beds in the commercial market, and many other features that we canโt wait to tell you about!
The Team: CLICK HERE
According to City A.M.:
“A new airline set up by a Goldman Sachs alumnus, which hopes to bring back business class-only flights to the States, is raising up to ยฃ5 million through crowd-funding.
Odyssey Airlines was founded by Adam Scott, a former banker who has assembled a team of start-up veterans including some of the founders of Silverjet, whose closure in 2008 was thought at the time to mark the end of such high-end carriers.
The airline has ordered 10 Bombardier CSeries planes, which will enable Odyssey to operate nonstop flights from London City Airport to New York when it launches in 2016. Scott is also sizing up other destinations up to eight hours from the capital.
Other trans-Atlantic operators at London City must stop at Shannon Airport to refuel, as Cityโs shorter runway and steep takeoff mean heavier aircraft are unable to leave with a full tank.
The Bombardier CSeries was โdesigned specifically for London City and difficult airports in mindโ, Scott said. โIn my own experiences of travelling, thereโs nothing more frustrating than all the aggravation of going through big hubs, so Iโm trying to find solution to those issues.โ
The firm has launched a ยฃ5 m fundraising drive on the Crowdcube investing platform, which follows last yearโs ยฃ2.185 m raising through the ThinCats peer-to-peer lending site.
At the time of writing, Odyssey has attracted investment of more than ยฃ252,000, taking it well on the way to its minimum Crowdcube goal of ยฃ1m. No word yet on the identities of the 32 early investors.”
Bombardier (Montreal) has announcedย it will cut 1,700 jobs, or around four percent of its staff, as it attempts to preserve cash after costly setbacks in the development of two new jets according to this report by Reuters.
Bombardier plans to eliminate 1,100 jobs in Canada and 600 in the United States.
Bombardier previously announced it would delay the entry of the new CS100 due to undefined issues. The company stated it needed more testing to make sure all of the systems were mature enough for entry into service. This delay was not anticipated by the company, hence the layoffs.ย Theย CS100ย entry-into-service is now scheduled for the second half of 2015 and will be followed by theย CS300ย entry-into-service approximately six months afterwards.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. The first CS100 test aircraft, namely CS100 (BD-500-1A10) C-FBCS (msn 50001), is pictured on its first test flight at Montreal (Mirabel).
Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) yesterday (September 16) had a successful first flight of its new CS100 airliner. The company issued this statement:
Under perfect weather conditions, Bombardier Aerospace celebrated the successful first flight of itsย CSeriesย aircraft, a major milestone in the companyโs highly anticipated development program that will provide operators with an all-new family of aircraft specifically designed for the 100- to 149-seat market segment. The maiden flight marks the start of theย CSeriesย aircraftโs flight test program leading up to the first customer delivery, and was also the first flight for Pratt & Whitneyโs new Geared Turbofanโข PurePower engine as part of an aircraft certification program.
The historic flight ofย CSeriesย flight test vehicle one (FTV1) โ aย CS100ย jetliner bearing Canadian registration markings C-FBCS โ was conducted under the command of Captain Charles (Chuck) Ellis, Chief Flight Test Pilot, Bombardier Flight Test Center. Capt. Ellis was assisted by his colleagues,ย Capt. Andris (Andy) Litavniks and Andreas Hartono in the roles of First Officer and Flight Test Engineer, respectively. The flight departed from MontrรฉalโMirabel International Airport at approximately 9:55 EDT and returned at approximately 12:25 EDT.
โDuring its maiden flight,ย CSeriesย FTV1 reached an altitude of 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) and an air speed of 230 knots (426 km/h). In-flight tests included flap and landing gear retractions and extensions; in-flight maneuvers that included a simulated landing; and early validation of the flight control system. Additionally, weโre also delighted that many of our guests commented on the impressive and quiet performance during takeoff and landing,โ added Mr. Dewar.
The firstย CSeriesย aircraft was greeted by more than 3,000 Bombardier employees and Board members, customers, partners and suppliers, upon its return to the companyโs Montreal Mirabel, Quรฉbec facility, where the final assembly line for theย CSeriesย aircraft program is now under construction.
A total of fiveย CS100ย flight test vehicles, all of which are currently in various stages of assembly, will join the flight test program in the coming months.
Top Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. CS100 (BD-500-1A10) C-FBCS (msn 50001) departs from YMX on its successful first flight.
Video:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Rockwell Collins. A view of the CS100 cockpit.ย Rockwell Collinsโย Pro Line Fusionยฎย avionics andย Primary Flight Control Computerย (PFCC) played a key role in the successful first flight of Bombardierโsย CSeriesย commercial aircraft.ย Rockwell Collinsโ Pro Line Fusion is featured on 16 aircraft platforms ranging from turboprops, light jets, intercontinental business jets, and commercial aircraft to military tanker and special missions platforms. The scalability of Pro Line Fusion is unmatched in the industry.
Pro Line Fusion for the CSeries aircraft, designed with five 15.1-inch diagonal LCD displays, provides an open architecture that enables extensive situational awareness capabilities, comprehensive integration with aircraft systems such as Rockwell Collinsโย MultiScanโขย weather radar and optional single or dualย Head-up Displayย (HUD), and a growth roadmap to future air space requirements. Performance-enhancing capabilities that Pro Line Fusion will bring to the CSeries aircraft include RNP AR 0.1 and Category IIIa/b autoland, which couples with Rockwell Collinsโ PFCC for Bombardierโs fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system.ย Rockwell Collinsโ PFCC provides an enabling platform to execute complex aircraft control laws, optimize aircraft fuel efficiency, improve passenger safety and enhance overall passenger ride comfort.
Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) has announced that the firstย CSeriesย aircraft โ Flight Test Vehicle 1 (FTV1) โ has successfully obtained Transport Canadaโs Flight Test Permit, thereby clearing the way for its maiden flight, expected in the coming weeks.
This follows a series of pre-flight tests including low-speed taxi runs. FTV1 will now proceed withย high-speed taxi runs whereby the aircraft simulates speeds for flight take-off.
โFive years in the making and today, following receipt of Transport Canadaโs flight test permit, we are very close to theย CSeriesย airlinerโs first flight โ a historic moment for Bombardier and a game-changing moment for the industry,โ said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. โTheย CSeriesย aircraft teams have spent the last few weeks completing rigorous exercises to ensure the integrity and maturity of the aircraft are absolutely in check with the flight crewโs requirements. Pending optimal weather, theย CSeriesย aircraft will soon take to the skies.โ
Bombardier will provide regular updates on the first flight timing via its website dedicated to theย CSeriesย Aircraft First Flightย www.cseriesfirstflight.bombardier.com, where the latest news about the program and its maiden flight will be posted. On the day of first flight, the event will be broadcast live on the site.
CSeriesย aircraft
Designed for the growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent newย CSeriesย aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, theย CSeriesย aircraft family will offer a 15 percent cash operating cost advantage and a 20 percent fuel burn advantage. With the extra capacity seating option, theย CS300ย aircraftโs productivity further improves, offering airlines an average of four percent additional cash operating cost advantage per seat. Theย CSeriesย aircraftโs clean-sheet design is ensuring that the aircraft will achieve greatly reduced noise and emissions, as well as superior operational flexibility, exceptional airfield performance and a range of 2,950 nm (5,463 km). Theย CSeriesย aircraft will be up to 12,000 lbs. (5,443 kg) lighter than other aircraft in the same seat category and will provide passengers with a best-in-class, widebody cabin environment in a single-aisle aircraft.
As of June 30, 2013, Bombardier had booked orders and commitments for 388ย CSeriesย aircraft that included firm orders for 177ย CSeriesย airliners.
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Bombardier CSeries CS100 (BD-500-1A10) “FTV1” C-FBCS (msn 50001) parked at Montreal (Mirabel) now wears a full color scheme as it prepares for its first flight.
Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) disclosed today that a previously announced firm order for 10 Bombardierย CS100ย aircraft was placed by Odyssey Airlines, a new airline that intends to operate from London City Airport. The firm order was announced on June 24, 2011.
According to Reuters, Odyssey Airlinesย plans to launch nonstop business class flights from London City Airport to New York and other destinations inย Europe.
Image: Bombardier.
Bombardier (Montreal) has reported to Reuters its new CSeries airliner is on schedule for its first flight later this month from Montreal’s Mirabel Airport. The company will report on new orders at the Paris Airshow which runs from June 17-23.
Theย Bombardier CSeriesย is a family ofย narrow-body,ย twin-engine, medium-rangeย jet airliners. The 110-seatย CS100ย and the 130-seatย CS300 are the two models being marketed. These were initially named C110 and C130, respectively.
This new CSeries jet competes with theย Boeing 737 Next Generationย (737-600, 737-700),ย Airbus A318 andย A319ย andย Embraerย ERJย 195. Bombardier claims the Cseries will burn 20% less fuel per trip than these competitors.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema. The first CSeries, the pictured CS100 (BD-500-1A10) registered C-FBCS (msn 50001) dubbed “FTV1” (Flight Test Vehicle 1), was rolled out of the Mirabel factory in this green primer paint and is being prepared for its first flight later this month (please click on the photo for the full size view).
Videos:
Porter Airlines (Toronto) has signed a conditional purchase agreement for 12ย CS100ย airliners, with options for an additional 18ย CS100ย aircraft. The agreement also includes purchase rights on sixย Q400 NextGenย aircraft. The parties also disclosed that Porter Airlines is the unidentified, Americas-based customer that signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) forย CS100ย aircraft as announced by Bombardier in December 2012.
The announcement was made at Porter Airlinesโ home base at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, where alongside Bombardier, they also unveiled theย CSeriesย aircraft flight deck and cabin demonstrator that will be on private display at Porterโs facility during the month of April 2013.
Meanwhile the Toronto Port Authority released the following statement:
The Toronto Port Authority (TPA) is aware of the announcement made earlier by Porter Airlines. As an independent operation, it is up to Porter to pursue its own business plan for the benefit of its customers, shareholders and employees. The TPA takes no position on Porter’s business aspirations.
For the past 30 years, the TPA has operated the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) based upon the terms of the 1983 Tripartite Agreement, and will continue to do so. The TPA will not consider any change of use to the airport until a determination is first made by the elected representatives on Toronto City Council regarding Porter’s proposed changes to the 1983 Tripartite Agreement.
Image: Bombardier.
Porter Airlines:ย 
PrivatAir (Geneva) has placed a firm order for fiveย Bombardier CS100ย airliners and has taken options on an additional fiveย CS100ย aircraft.
Based on the list price for theย CS100ย aircraft, the firm order contract is valued at approximately $309 million US, and could increase to $636 million US if the five options are exercised.
PrivatAir was founded more than 30 years ago and operates a large fleet of commercial and business aircraft to provide private charter and private airline services. Its specialized services include exclusively business class flights on behalf of several major network airlines. As a superb example of the versatility of the worldโs only all-new aircraft in its segment, theย CSeriesย aircraft acquired by PrivatAir will be delivered in an all-business class configuration.
In other news, Gulf Air will drop the Bahrain-Geneva route (operated by PrivatAir) on March 1.
Image: Bombardier.
PrivatAir Slide Show: CLICK HERE
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