NetJets® to be the official worldwide launch partner

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has expanded its leading Challenger family of business jets with the addition of the new Challenger 350 aircraft. The Challenger 350 jet was launched, with worldwide leader in private aviation NetJets^® as the worldwide launch partner, at a special event at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to begin in 2014.

“The Challenger 350 jet will take our existing Challenger family to new heights,” said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “This aircraft further enhances our leading business aircraft portfolio and will provide our customers with redefined design standards. Passengers will experience new comfort levels as they relax in the completely new cabin, enjoy a purpose-built and intuitive cabin management system and increase their efficiency with superior performance, and all at best-in-class operating costs. There is simply no substitute for a Challenger jet.”

“Designed to meet the ever growing needs of our customers, this new aircraft reflects the feedback received from our existing Challenger customers. Based on our owners and operators’ needs, we have taken the world’s bestselling super midsize jet and further increased its capability to better meet the growing requirements of our ever expanding Challenger customer base worldwide,” added Mr. Ridolfi.

Jordan B. Hansell, NetJets Chairman and Chief-Executive-Officer, said: “We are excited about the addition of our exclusive NetJets Signature Series Challenger 350 aircraft to our fleet and the tremendous value this aircraft will bring to our unmatched global capabilities and most importantly, to our customers. This super midsize aircraft will deliver an experience that meets both our customers’ travel and comfort requirements. The inflight experience is exceptional and unlike any other. The aircraft has an exceptionally quiet cabin, allowing both serenity and conversation, soft, hand-crafted leathers, meticulously designed wood finishes, an in-flight entertainment system offering choices for every taste, and a single-service beverage maker, all designed specifically by NetJets.”

“The cabin’s design was all in an effort to allow our customers to relax and enjoy their flight whether for work or family. This state-of-the-art jet’s cabin, designed in partnership with Bombardier Aerospace, will provide our discerning customers the best flight experience, along with the safety and reliability they expect from the worldwide leader in private aviation,” added Mr. Hansell.

Performance and Efficiency

The Challenger 350 jet will offer increased performance from the new twin Honeywell HTF7350 engines, each producing 7,323 lbf (32.57 kN) of thrust and reduced emissions*, increased aerodynamic efficiency with its new canted winglets and will fly eight passengers 3,200 nm (5,926 km)*. The Challenger 350 jet boasts an impressive direct climb to 43,000 ft (13,106 m)*.

Comfort

With a flat floor and the widest cabin in its class, the Challenger 350 jet features an entirely new interior, that lets even more natural light into the cabin with larger windows, resulting in a jet that offers passengers state-of-the-art cabin comfort, technology and productivity. Featuring Lufthansa Technik’s next generation nice HD cabin management system, the cabin includes a complete redesign of the way passengers control the cabin environment, complemented by contemporary seat design, a new modular galley and the industry’s most advanced sideledge featuring an authentic metal trim, a first in business aviation cabin interior design.

Avionics

The Challenger 350 aircraft’s cockpit will feature Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced.  Features of the new avionics include, among others, synthetic vision, dual inertial reference systems, a completely paperless cockpit and Multiscan Weather Radar. The new avionics will provide pilots with increased situational awareness and reduced pilot workload.

Customer Support Network

Challenger 350 aircraft customers will be able to count on a full range of 24/7 support around the world. In preparation for a smooth entry-into-service, Bombardier Aerospace is currently reconfiguring a flight training device and Level D full-flight simulator at its aircraft training centre in Dallas, Texas. Customer Services staff deployed throughout its worldwide network of Service Centres, Parts Depots and Regional Support Offices will also be ready to support upcoming entry-into-service activities including spare parts deployments, as well as updated information on the Customer Information Centre (CIC) website and the SmartFix Plus online troubleshooting tool.
NetJets Signature Series™ aircraft

NetJets recently introduced the NetJets Signature Series™ of aircraft, which are new aircraft that will be entering the NetJets fleet that are customized from design through production to include advanced in-flight entertainment systems and custom cabin designs, as well as advanced cockpit and cabin technologies to ensure maximum safety, reliability and operating efficiency. The NetJets Signature Series™ of aircraft, among others, include the Bombardier Global jet family and the Challenger 350 and Challenger 605 Series jets.