Peter Edwards, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft
Bombardier is racking up record sales of business aircraft in Europe as it meets surging demand from Russia, the Ukraine and an oil-price-fired Middle East.
“Last year we delivered 129 business aircraft (up sharply from 70 in 2003), and 30% of those were delivered into Europe,” Bombardier Business Aircraft president Peter Edwards told Show News. “We had not approached that level in the past — these were record levels for us. And they are continuing this year.”
Bombardier has already signed “half-a-dozen” letters of intent for its new Challenger 800-series corporate shuttles based upon the 50-seat, 70-seat and 90-seat CRJ200, CRJ700 and CRJ900 airliners, after launching the aircraft less than a month ago at EBACE in Geneva, according to Bombardier Business Aircraft president Peter Edwards.
The first customer is The Aero Toy Store, which plans to use two 870s for VIP charters between Russia and Israel for executives in the diamond business.
The $29 million Challenger 850, powered by 8,729 pounds thrust CF34-3B1 turbofans, is a rebadged Challenger 800 (née 1992 Corporate Jetliner, née Challenger SE). It can carry 35 passengers 2,200 nmi, but its runway performance is anemic at hot-and-high airports. Its climb performance is sluggish by business jet standards and it cruises at Mach 0.74.
The Challenger 870 and 890 are far different and newer aircraft. They’re not only stretched, but they’re powered by 13,790- to 14,000-plus pounds thrust CF34-8C5 engines and they are fitted with next-generation supercritical wings that enable these aircraft to cruise 23 kts faster than the 850. Both the 870 and 890 have leading-edge slats that, together with the more powerful engines, provide considerably better runway performance, especially under hot-and-high conditions. Both aircraft have 4,000 pounds more fuel capacity than the Challenger 850, so there’s no need to fit them with optional auxiliary belly tanks.
The $30 million Challenger 870 will be offered in three different configurations, as will the 850 and 890. The standard version has all-coach seating with room for 70 people. The deluxe model has 42 all-business-class seats. The split cabin version, the most popular among potential customers, will have eight VIP chairs in double club up front and 44 economy seats in back. This version will be able to fly almost 2,200 nmi. —Fred George
Edwards declined to project deliveries for this year, but said growth is continuing. He has high hopes for the new Challenger 800 series of executive shuttle aircraft, based on Bombardier’s regional jets, and has set an ambitious goal for them to consistently account for 10% of the company’s bizjet sales.
Bombardier is here with the latest versions of its three-category family of business aircraft — the Learjet 40/45 series of smaller jets, the super-midsize Challenger 300, and the top of the range ultra-long haul, high-speed Global 5000 and Global Express XRS.
The company is basing its future on this line-up which is, Edwards claims, the broadest and most modern fleet in the industry. “We have introduced 15 new aircraft in the last 15 years, and in terms of investment have probably outspent the rest of the industry combined in developing these new products,” he said.
Renewing the whole product line “was a tough call to make as we were investing heavily even though the industry was in one of the toughest down cycles we have seen.”
In many cases other manufacturers focused on revamping older models that had stood them in good stead. The result is there are now 38 to 40 models in the industry (not counting the new, lighter jets) chasing forecast deliveries of 700 aircraft a year. “You can see you don’t have enough production to create health in all these programs,” Edwards pointed out.
It’s Not Us
Bombardier will not be a member of the industry consortium to develop and build the Aerion supersonic business jet. “We are not talking to Aerion and there have been no talks that I am aware of,” says Peter Edwards, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.
As in past times of multiple choice and oversupply, the market will gravitate toward the newer, more modern aircraft — such as Bombardier’s fleet.
“We have already done the heavy lifting,” he said.
