Bombardier Aerospace will stress the importance of the Asia-Pacific market for its business and commercial aircraft activities at the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2009 in Hong Kong from September 8 to 10. Four of its high-performance business aircraft, the midsize Learjet 60 XR, super-midsize Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets will be open for viewing at the static display at Hong Kong International Airport.

“With a wide range of products and services, Bombardier is well positioned to offer operators throughout China, India and the Asia-Pacific region the best business aircraft to meet their expanding travel requirements”, noted David Dixon, Regional Vice President, Sales Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Bombardier is committed to supporting its customer base in the region with an expanding customer service network. This will ensure its operators have access not only to the best products, but also meets the international nature of the Global aircraft platform whose owners, from the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and India, regularly visit the area. As a matter of fact, in July 2009, Reignwood Group, a Beijing-based corporation with worldwide operations, became the first to operate a Global 5000 jet from mainland China.”

Bombardier Aerospace’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region have grown substantially in recent years. The company is a leading supplier of commercial aircraft to the region, with more than 250 of its Q-Series turboprops and CRJ regional jets in service or ordered by some 36 operators. “The Asia-Pacific market holds great potential for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft,” said Trung Ngo, Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “It’s fair to say that in many countries within these markets, aviation infrastructure continues to be developed. In recent years, carriers have been focused on developing trunk routes to connect metropolitan areas. In this segment, our new CSeries 100- to 130-seat, single-aisle, mainline airliner family can play a very useful role.”

“Going forward, carriers will need to develop regional market segments to strengthen overall network connectivity,” said Mr. Ngo. “We have the optimum aircraft for these segments in our CRJ NextGen regional jets spanning 70 to 100 seats, and our high-speed Q400 NextGen turboprop with 68 to 80 seats.”

Bombardier Aerospace’s relationship with China

Bombardier recently celebrated the arrival in Saint-Laurent, Québec of a CSeries aircraft centre fuselage test barrel, manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Bombardier and the China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC I) are partners in a long-term strategic cooperation in the five-abreast commercial aircraft market. 

Bombardier Aerospace operates seven facilities in six Chinese cities, including sales offices and customer support centres. Our widespread presence in China continues to grow with the CSeries aircraft program and our long-term collaboration with the Chinese Aviation Industry. In addition, to support its customers, Bombardier has a regional aircraft spare parts depot in Beijing. Bombardier has appointed Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Ltd. (STAECO) of Ji’nan as the first Bombardier-recognized heavy maintenance facility in the Asia-Pacific Region. With Bombardier Transportation, the corporation has 3,000 employees in China.

Bombardier aircraft on static display at Asian Aerospace 2009

Learjet 60 XR: In service since July 2007, the Learjet 60 XR is a model of performance, comfort, value and versatility in the midsize jet market. The aircraft’s higher operating altitudes – certified to 51,000 ft (15,545 m) – translate to time savings due to better winds, less traffic and less turbulence. With a high cruise speed of Mach 0.81 (861 km/hr), the aircraft can fly Hong Kong-Jakarta non-stop* and delivers superior climb capabilities, with proven fuel efficiency and low direct operating costs per nautical mile.

Challenger 605: In service since January 2007, the Challenger 605 jet features the widest stand-up cabin of any large category business jet available today. It is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite and an all new cabin electronic system. It can whisk five passengers from Hong Kong-Perth non-stop*, in superior comfort. Optional equipment on the Challenger 605 jet now includes the Bombardier Enhanced Vision System (BEVS), providing pilots with significantly improved situational awareness and the ability to observe runway lights and the runway environment in difficult operating conditions, such as low visibility and/or darkness.

Challenger 850: This executive aircraft combines the outstanding dependability of a
CRJ200 airliner with an executive cabin and the superior level of support business aircraft customers demand. The Challenger 850 which features the cabin volume of an ultra long-range jet with a transcontinental range of up to 3,044 nautical miles (5,636 km) ^*, sets the comfort benchmark for its class.

Global Express XRS: The pioneering Global Express XRS business jet features the largest cabin of any purpose-built corporate aircraft – offering more cabin volume and more floor space than its closest competitor. No other business jet in the ultra long-range segment matches the high-speed range capability delivered by this aircraft. Offering the ultimate in cabin comfort, this impressive jet can link Hong Kong-Los Angeles and Hong Kong-Dublin non-stop with eight passengers and three-to-four crew*. Bombardier’s new Global Vision flight deck successfully completed its first test flight on August 3.

Source: Bombardier