Bombardier Promotes Its Global 5000, Displays Jet's First Production
Interior
Bombardier Business Aircraft has brought three airplanes to Farnborough
2004, and is emphasizing its just-certified Global 5000, the smaller
brother of the flagship Global Express.
On display here is the first production interior of the Global
5000, in aircraft s/n 9130.
At €27.1 million ($33.5 million), the Global 5000 is nearly
€8.1 million ($10 million) cheaper than the Global Express,
with NBAA four-passenger range of 4,800 nmi (compared with 5,960
nmi for the GEX). It has the same wide cabin, albeit with a net
length seven feet shorter.
The 5000, says its builder, "provides a cost-effective step-up
for current large aircraft operators." The aircraft first flew
on March 7, 2003. S/n 9140 secured the type's Transport Canada airworthiness
certificate on July 9. Deliveries are to begin in the fourth quarter
of 2004.
Also on display here are a Challenger 300 (the former Continental)
and a Learjet 40.
The €14.46 million ($17.85 million) Challenger 300 is promoted
for true transcontinental range and superior long-range cruise speed,
with operating costs equal to or better than competing midsize jets.
It's described as "a cost-effective step-up for current light
jet operators," Bombardier says, "as well as for operators
constrained by their current midsize aircraft." The Challenger
300 entered service in January.
The €6.3 million ($7.8 million) Learjet 40, launched here
two years ago, is a derivative of the €8.3 million ($10.25
million) Learjet 45, with avionics, engines, wing, forward fuselage
and cockpit common to both. It can take four passengers non-stop
from London to Athens. Bombardier Aerospace is in Chalet C1-3.
—Rich Piellisch
'Fastest Since Concorde'
Bombardier's Flexjet Europe has launched the Transatlantic
Express, claiming the fastest crossings since Concorde with
flexible service from any European airfield to the East Coast
of the U.S., or from London to destinations in the central
U.S., using the Global Express.
"Flying time is approximately 36 minutes faster than
its closest competitor, the Falcon 900EX and approximately
44 minutes faster than the Gulfstream G550," Bombardier
claims.
"Unlike other transatlantic business jet travel programs
where customers must purchase an aircraft share, this service
is offered 'by the flight' and is available to anyone,"
said Flexjet Europe managing director Judith Moreton. "This
is a straightforward, simple program," she said.
The fare, for up to ten passengers, is a cool €150,000.
Return, of course, and Flexjet customers get a €10,000
discount.
The XRS, with BEVS
While the €27.1 million ($33.5 million) Global 5000
on show here is a smaller variant of Bombardier's €36.7
million ($45.3 million) flagship Global Express, the company
last year launched the Global Express XRS, which for €36.8
million ($45.5 million) will be faster, capable of coping
better with hot-and-high airfields, quicker to fuel, and will
come with an enhanced vision system as standard equipment.
The XRS will have two more windows for more natural light,
improved LED lighting too, better pressurization and more
onboard storage space.
A new forward fuel tank in the wing-body fairing boosts fuel
capacity by 1,486 pounds, stretching range to 6,150 nmi at
a cruise speed of Mach 0.85, and 5,450 nmi at Mach 0.87. A
new zero-flaps takeoff capability improves hot-and-high performance,
allowing greater fuel loads, so the aircraft can reach more
destinations. Fueling will be speeded by 15 minutes via software
upgrades to the fuel computer and "structural adjustments."
The Global Express XRS will include the BEVS—Bombardier
Enhanced Vision System—as standard equipment. The safety-enhancing
BEVS is based on the second-generation SureSight I-series
EVS sensor from CMC Electronics, integrated with a Thales
HUD. It is expected to be operational in the first quarter
of 2005.
The Global Express XRS is scheduled to enter service in early
2006.
European Success Story
"We delivered 115 new aircraft into Europe over the
past five years—that's some 24% of the market,"
says Bombardier Business Aircraft regional sales manager Bob
Horner.
He credits the company's steadfastness in Europe, where,
rather than cut back when the market declined, Bombardier
beefed-up customer support and took such steps as opening
a used aircraft office in Paris.
There are launch customers in Europe for all of Bombardier's
new products, from the Learjet 40 and Challenger 300 to the
Global 5000, Horner said. A particular bright spot is Russia,
where Horner has been selling for nearly 10 years. Bombardier
has sold no fewer than eight Global Express and Global 5000s
there, two some time ago and six more recently.
