Marshall Wants More Globals

Marshall Aerospace says it is making "good progress" on the three Bombardier Global Express aircraft now undergoing completion at its Cambridge, UK plant-and is pushing for additional work.

Late last year, Bombardier chose Marshall as one of three external Global Express completions vendors, as part of a bid to reduce pressure on the manufacturer's own completions facilities in Montreal and Tucson, Arizona.

Together, the three completion centers have started work on seven Global Express aircraft. Marshall and The Jet Center of Van Nuys, California, each plan to complete four aircraft next year; BFGoodrich of Everett, Washington hopes to complete five.

Marshall's 1.2 million square-foot facility houses a purpose-built trim and interior shop, plus a new avionics shop, employing 75 technicians and 60 woodworkers. Marshall also is working with Trace Aircraft completion of Biggin Hill.

At Farnborough 2000, Bombardier will lean toward European government buyers by emphasizing the Global's special missions capabilities. Last year, the UK Ministry of Defence ordered five GXs for its Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) contract.

Bombardier delivered the 50th Global Express to its Montreal completions center in June, but only 14 of the aircraft have entered service. As of July 12, the Global Express in-service fleet had accumulated 5,350 flight hours.

By Paul Richfield