Tag Archives: CSeries

Swiss to be the first operator of the Bombardier CS100

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft (Montreal) announced Swiss will be the first customer to take delivery and operate the CSeries aircraft when the CS100 aircraft enters service in the first half of 2016. Bombardier also confirmed the CSeries aircraft will make its world debut at the International Paris Air Show being held at Le Bourget, France and will fly directly to Zürich, Switzerland in June as part of a demonstration organized for Swiss’ local stakeholders.

Swiss was previously announced as the launch customer for the CSeries aircraft program after parent Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) signed a firm purchase agreement in 2009 for 30 CS100 single-aisle aircraft for Swiss.

Swiss aircraft slide show:

Image Below: Bombardier.

Bombardier resumes CSeries flight testing

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft (Montreal and Toronto) has confirmed that the CSeries aircraft resumed flight testing with flight test vehicle two (FTV2) taking flight today at Bombardier’s facility in Mirabel, Québec.

The flight on September 7 follows an in-depth review and analysis of the engine-related incident that occurred during stationary ground maintenance testing involving CSeries aircraft FTV1 on May 29, 2014 at the Mirabel facility. Pratt and Whitney alongside Bombardier, has taken appropriate measures to address the issue, including the modification of the engine’s oil lubrication system.

The CSeries aircraft’s entry-into-service remains on track for the second half of 2015.

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CSeries CS100 (BD-500-1A10) “FTV1” C-FBCS (msn 50001) is pictured on its first test flight at Montreal (Mirabel).

Falcon Aviation Services orders two Bombardier CS300 jetliners

Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) announced today that Falcon Aviation Services LLC (Abu Dhabi) has signed a firm purchase agreement for two CS300 jetliners. The transaction is a conversion of the Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire one CS300 aircraft and one option that was announced on February 26, 2014. When the LOI was announced, Falcon Aviation Services became the first customer for CSeries aircraft in the United Arab Emirates.

Based on the list price of the CS300 aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $153.6 million US.

Falcon Aviation Services is based at Al Bateen Executive Airport and operates a fleet of corporate jets conducting VIP charter flights, as well as a fleet of helicopters serving the offshore oil and gas industry. The company also conducts search and rescue, aircraft management, maintenance, repair and overhaul, as well as consulting operations. The company recently ordered two Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft for its fleet.

As of today, Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 471 CSeries aircraft, which include firm orders for 203 CSeries airliners.

Image: Bombardier.

The Bombardier CSeries FTV1 aircraft suffers an engine failure

Bombardier (Montreal) late on May 29 suffered another setback with its delayed CSeries airliner. The test aircraft suffered an engine failure while it was on the ground.

Bombardier issued this short statement:

Bombardier confirmed that late on May 29 there was an engine-related incident during stationary ground maintenance testing involving the CSeries FTV1 aircraft at its facility in Mirabel, Québec.

Bombardier is investigating the incident with the support of Pratt & Whitney and the appropriate authorities. Safety is the priority, and the CSeries aircraft flight test program will resume once the investigation is completed.

Read the full story from the Toronto Star: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CS100 (BD-500-1A10) C-FBCS (msn 50001) is pictured on its first flight at Montreal (Mirabel).

Odyssey Airlines (UK) to use crowdsourcing to raise capital and to start operations

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 operations 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, 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 can’t 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 £5 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 City’s shorter runway and steep takeoff mean heavier aircraft are unable to leave with a full tank.

The Bombardier CSeries was “designed specifically for London City and difficult airports in mind”, Scott said. “In my own experiences of travelling, there’s nothing more frustrating than all the aggravation of going through big hubs, so I’m trying to find solution to those issues.”

The firm has launched a £5 m fundraising drive on the Crowdcube investing platform, which follows last year’s £2.185 m raising through the ThinCats peer-to-peer lending site.

At the time of writing, Odyssey has attracted investment of more than £252,000, taking it well on the way to its minimum Crowdcube goal of £1m. No word yet on the identities of the 32 early investors.”

The Bombardier CS100 has a successful first flight

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 its CSeries aircraft, a major milestone in the company’s 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 the CSeries aircraft’s flight test program leading up to the first customer delivery, and was also the first flight for Pratt & Whitney’s new Geared Turbofan™ PurePower engine as part of an aircraft certification program.

The historic flight of CSeries flight test vehicle one (FTV1) – a CS100 jetliner bearing Canadian registration markings C-FBCS – 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, Capt. Andris (Andy) Litavniks and Andreas Hartono in the roles of First Officer and Flight Test Engineer, respectively. The flight departed from Montréal–Mirabel International Airport at approximately 9:55 EDT and returned at approximately 12:25 EDT.

“During its maiden flight, CSeries 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, we’re also delighted that many of our guests commented on the impressive and quiet performance during takeoff and landing,” added Mr. Dewar.

The first CSeries aircraft was greeted by more than 3,000 Bombardier employees and Board members, customers, partners and suppliers, upon its return to the company’s Montreal Mirabel, Québec facility, where the final assembly line for the CSeries aircraft program is now under construction.

A total of five CS100 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. Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion^® avionics and Primary Flight Control Computer (PFCC) played a key role in the successful first flight of Bombardier’s CSeries commercial aircraft. Rockwell Collins’ 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 Collins’ MultiScan™ weather radar and optional single or dual Head-up Display (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 Collins’ PFCC for Bombardier’s fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system. Rockwell Collins’ 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 is issued a Transport Canada Flight Test Permit

Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) has announced that the first CSeries aircraft – Flight Test Vehicle 1 (FTV1) – has successfully obtained Transport Canada’s 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 with high-speed taxi runs whereby the aircraft simulates speeds for flight take-off.

“Five years in the making and today, following receipt of Transport Canada’s flight test permit, we are very close to the CSeries airliner’s first flight – a historic moment for Bombardier and a game-changing moment for the industry,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The CSeries 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 crew’s requirements. Pending optimal weather, the CSeries aircraft will soon take to the skies.”

Bombardier will provide regular updates on the first flight timing via its website dedicated to the CSeries Aircraft First Flight 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.

CSeries aircraft

Designed for the growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent new CSeries aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, the CSeries aircraft family will offer a 15 percent cash operating cost advantage and a 20 percent fuel burn advantage. With the extra capacity seating option, the CS300 aircraft’s productivity further improves, offering airlines an average of four percent additional cash operating cost advantage per seat. The CSeries aircraft’s 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). The CSeries 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 388 CSeries aircraft that included firm orders for 177 CSeries airliners.

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. 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.

COMAC and Bombardier sign a strategic definitive agreement on Phase II of Long-Term Collaboration

Bombardier (Montreal) today issued this statement:

Further to the Definitive Agreement (DA) signed on March 21, 2012 covering program commonalities between the C919 and CSeries aircraft and the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed on November 13, 2012 signaling the beginning of Phase II of their strategic collaboration, Bombardier and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) wish to announce the signing of a DA covering four distinctive projects. The DA is to be executed as part of the second phase of the parties’ long-term collaboration on leveraging commonalities between theC919 and CSeries airliners.

The four initiatives COMAC and Bombardier will collaborate on are: 1) specific areas of the CSeries aircraft flight test activities pertaining to non-flying tasks, 2) implementing and maintaining the common items that were achieved as part of Phase I, 3) sales and marketing, and 4) certain areas of customer services related to training, technical publications and parts distribution.

The second phase of COMAC and Bombardier’s cooperation is expected to contribute further to enhancing the competitiveness of not only the C919 and CSeries aircraft programs, but also of both COMAC and Bombardier’s overall businesses, and will help with maximizing both parties’ cost savings and market shares, while allowing customers of the C919 and the CSeriescommercial airliners to realize cost benefits from the operation of both aircraft families.

Image: Bombardier.

Bombardier’s first CSeries remains on schedule for its first flight later this month

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.

The Bombardier CSeries is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range jet airliners. The 110-seat CS100 and the 130-seat CS300 are the two models being marketed. These were initially named C110 and C130, respectively.

This new CSeries jet competes with the Boeing 737 Next Generation (737-600, 737-700), Airbus A318 and A319 and Embraer ERJ 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:

airBaltic signs LOI for 10 Bombardier CS300 jetliners

Air Baltic Corporation (airBaltic) (Riga) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire 10 CS300 aircraft and take purchase rights on a further 10 CS300 jetliners.

Based on the list price of the CS300 airliner, a firm-order contract with the network carrier will be valued at approximately $764 million, and could increase to $1.57 billion should the 10 purchase rights be converted to firm orders.

According to the manufacturer, the CSeries is designed for the “growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent new CSeries aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements in 2013 and beyond. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, the CSeries aircraft family will offer a 15* per cent cash operating cost advantage and a 20* per cent fuel burn advantage. The CSeries aircraft’s 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)*. The CSeries 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.”

Including this announced LOI from airBaltic for 10 CS300 airliners and purchase rights for 10 CS300 airliners, as well as a conditional order for five CS100 and 10 CS300 jetliners placed by an unidentified customer earlier this week during the Farnborough Airshow, Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 352 CSeries aircraft.

The CSeries aircraft order book also includes firm orders for 138 CSeries airliners from Braathens Aviation (five CS100 and five CS300 aircraft), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (30 CS100 aircraft), Korean Air (10 CS300 aircraft), Lease Corporation International Group (17 CS300 and three CS100 aircraft), PrivatAir (five CS100 aircraft), Republic Airways (40 CS300 aircraft), an unidentified major network carrier (10 CS100 aircraft), an unidentified European customer (10 CS100 aircraft) and a well-established, unidentified airline (three CS100 aircraft). The CSeries aircraft program has also booked options for 124 aircraft and purchase rights for 10 aircraft from these customers, as well as LOI’s for up to 30 CSeries aircraft from Ilyushin Finance Co, and for up to 15 CS300 aircraft from Atlasjet.

airBaltic: