Send this page / Print this page Home / Composites News / Business & Markets

16 Jul 2008  -  Canada

Bombardier launches CSeries aircraft program

© Bombardier

The CSeries aircraft program
Bombardier announced on July 13, 2008 that its Board of Directors has granted approval for the launch of the CSeries family of aircraft, a new game-changing five abreast commercial airliner family, with the economics, performance, environmental and passenger-oriented improvements demanded by airline customers for the next quarter century. Entry into service is scheduled for 2013.

Launch customer, Lufthansa, a leading German airline, has signed a letter of interest (LOI) for up to 60 aircraft, including 30 options. The approximate list price of each aircraft is $46.7 million US. Additionally, discussions with a number of established airlines worldwide are progressing well.

Bombardier made the announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow during a press conference at its CSeries pavilion hosted by Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.; Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace and Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Nico Buchholz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Fleet, Lufthansa attended the event as well as: David Moloney, Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Canada; Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export, Government of Québec; Right Honourable Shaun Woodward MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; Arlene Foster MLA, Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; and Steve Finger, President, Pratt & Whitney. Also in attendance were representatives from the Shenyang Municipal Government, AVIC I/SACC, Rockwell Collins, Parker Hannifin Corporation, and Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse SAS.

“Today is a great day for Bombardier, our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our suppliers. I am proud to say that we have met our business plan objectives: a technologically advanced aircraft family, a strong pipeline of orders and repayable investments with governments and agreements with key suppliers. With the latest in system technologies and aerodynamics, the CSeries family of aircraft will revolutionize the economics and network strategies for airline operations in the 100- to 149-seat commercial market. It is another example of our commitment to designing and manufacturing innovative aircraft that will ensure our continued industry leadership,” said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.

“At Lufthansa, we are committed to a balance between commercial success, environment and business policies oriented toward sustainability,” said Nico Buchholz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Fleet, Lufthansa. “Our initial evaluations of the CSeries family of aircraft and discussions with Bombardier over the last few months have evolved and made us believe that the CSeries family of aircraft clearly meets our stringent requirements for sustainable fleet development, both in terms of environmental and commercial requirements, and flexibility for the future. We are proud to be a part of its launch.”

Mirabel and Saint-Laurent, Québec; Belfast, Northern Ireland selected
Bombardier also announced that it has selected Mirabel as the final assembly location for the CSeries aircraft program. The decision was made after a rigorous comparative analysis of potential final assembly sites based on an exhaustive list of key financial and strategic criteria.

“The final assembly facility will be located in Mirabel, in the greater Montréal area, thus ensuring Bombardier’s access to a skilled aerospace workforce and to an established aerospace education system,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “Additionally, the manufacture of the aircraft’s aft fuselage and cockpit will take place at our Saint-Laurent facility, near our new product development centre, home to the growing CSeries team.”

Bombardier’s Belfast facility, a centre of excellence for composite manufacturing, will be home to the design and manufacture of theCSeries aircraft wings.

“Our Belfast operation has close to 40 years experience in advanced composites technologies, which have been successfully applied to regional and commercial jets, including the Bombardier CRJ NextGen jets. Our highly skilled experts continue to develop technologies to take on more advanced composite structures for advanced-design aircraft such as our CSeries aircraft,” added Mr. Hachey.

Repayable government investments
Bombardier has received and accepted offers of repayable investments from the governments of Canada and Québec as well as Northern Ireland and British Government Departments. The total repayable investments will cover approximately one-third of the expected R&D costs. Bombardier will also contribute about one-third, as will key suppliers.

“The CSeries aircraft program is a compelling business proposal for both Canada and Québec as well as Northern Ireland and British Government Departments. It involves, among other things, the development of new technology, creation of employment and further consolidation of Canada’s leadership in the aerospace industry. Our partners, including governments and suppliers, will benefit from the program’s success,” stated Mr. Hachey.

CSeries family of aircraft
In addition to unmatched passenger comfort, the competitive 110- to 130 -seat CSeries family of aircraft will benefit from the latest technological advancements, including: increased use of composites and aluminium lithium in structures; a next-generation engine – the Pratt & Whitney Geared TurbofanTM; and the very latest in system technologies, such as fly-by-wire, and fourth-generation aerodynamics.

“The CSeries family offers the greenest single-aisle aircraft in its class," said Gary Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "These game-changing aircraft emit up to 20 per cent less CO2 and up to 50 per cent less NOx, fly four times quieter, and deliver dramatic energy savings – up to 20 per cent fuel burn advantage as well as up to 15 per cent improved cash operating costs versus current in-production aircraft of similar size. The CSeries aircraft will set a new benchmark in the industry, consuming as little as two liters of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometers in its more dense seating layouts*.” 

*The CSeries aircraft is in the conceptual design phase and is subject to changes during the course of the design, manufacture and certification process.

The five-abreast CSeries aircraft family is specifically designed to meet the growing needs of the 100- to 149-seat commercial aircraft market category, estimated by Bombardier at 6,300 aircraft representing more than $250 billion US revenue over the next 20 years. Bombardier expects to be able to capture up to half of this market.

Key suppliers selected
Bombardier has selected the following suppliers for the CSeries aircraft family program:

C&D Zodiac for the design and production of the aircraft’s interior package, which includes the seats, interiors (including the linings, monuments, bins, galleys and lavatories), oxygen system, lighting system, insulation system, waste system and the water system;

Rockwell Collins as the supplier for the aircraft’s avionics system. Tailored specifically for the CSeries aircraft, its fully integrated flight deck capability will provide flexibility, high reliability and low life cycle costs without compromise on the aircraft’s performance;

Parker Hannifin Corporation, through its Aerospace Group, for the design and production of the CSeries airliner’s fully integrated fuel and hydraulics systems;

Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS for the design and production of the aircraft’s Air Management System, which includes the environmental control and cabin pressure control system.

All major suppliers will work with the CSeries team at Bombardier’s Aerospace Product Development Centre in Saint-Laurent, Québec starting in the fall of 2008 as part of the Joint Conceptual Definition Phase. 

Contract with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation
On July 15, 2008, Bombardier Aerospace signed a contract with the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned aviation industrial entity China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC I), to supply the centre fuselage on the newly launched Bombardier CSeries aircraft. This agreement is another concrete example of the strategic business relationship that exists between Bombardier Aerospace and AVIC I.

“AVIC I signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Bombardier in April 2007. AVIC I attaches great importance to and supports the CSeries project and is willing to participate in this project as a risk-sharing supplier. Two days ago, Bombardier officially announced the launch of the CSeries program. Today, we are here signing the contract in which AVIC I / SAC will take part in the design, manufacture, assembly and relevant testing as well as after market support of four major work packages for the CSeries aircraft. I am confident that the cooperation between AVIC I and Bombardier will further promote the development of the commercial aircraft business of our two companies and contribute to the development of the global aviation industry,” stated Mr. WANG Yawei, Vice President, Commercial Airplane, AVIC I.

“Shenyang has a long and proud history as an industrial base in China, and we place aerospace as one of our key priorities,” said Mr. WANG Ying, Vice Mayor of Shenyang Municipality. “The goal of the Shenyang National Aviation and High-Tech Industrial Base - our industrial hub dedicated to the high-tech aerospace sector - is to be China’s largest single site for final assembly of regional jets, business jets, light aircraft and jet engines. On the occasion of this announcement between Bombardier Aerospace and AVIC I, we are pleased to offer our support to AVIC I as it invests in a new facility in Shenyang for its subsidiary company SAC.”

The contract announced at Farnborough between Bombardier Aerospace and SAC is an integral part of a longstanding relationship between AVIC I and Bombardier Aerospace. Back in June 2007, the two companies announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a long-term strategic cooperation in the 90- to 149-seat commercial aircraft market. Both parties expect the outcome of this collaboration to result in mutually beneficial cost reductions and increased production efficiencies for their respective aircraft programs.

In July 2006, Bombardier entered an agreement that stipulated SAC would manufacture certain structural aircraft components for the Q400 aircraft that were previously sourced from Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) in Japan.

“Last year when we announced the MOU between AVIC I and Bombardier Aerospace we were confident of the long-term benefits to both companies. With the official announcement of the launch of the Bombardier CSeries aircraft program, the signing of this contract with SAC as a major structural supplier for our CSeries aircraft program is further evidence that this collaborative partnership was the right choice,” said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. “Together, we will expand upon this supplier relationship and build a new, long-term strategic cooperation that will allow us to reap the benefits of working together on products that will more than meet the needs of the marketplace.”

“This is good news for everyone involved. Our Bombardier CSeries aircraft is a true game changer and, with the signing of this contract with SAC, we now have a major supplier for the aircraft’s center fuselage,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “Featuring the latest in system technologies and aerodynamics, the five-abreast CSeries aircraft family is specifically designed to meet the growing needs of the 100- to 149-seat mainline commercial airliner market, which is estimated at 6,300 aircraft over the next 20 years. We expect to be able to capture up to half of this market.”

For the SAC project, financial, technological and human resources are being deployed from both parties. Currently, 25 employees from China are working at Bombardier’s Montréal facilities.

Bombardier employs approximately 3,000 employees in China, participates in three manufacturing joint ventures (JV), has four whole foreign-owned enterprises (WFOE), and four administration offices in transportation; aircraft field service representatives; a parts depot in Beijing and sales representation for business and regional aircraft. Seven commercial airlines and government agencies in Greater China (including Taiwan) operate a total of 46 Bombardier regional aircraft (as of January 2007), making Bombardier an important supplier of regional aircraft to China. Bombardier Business Aircraft is the market leader in China with 41 per cent market share of the aircraft installed base.

About AVIC I
China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC I) is a large, state-owned industrial group. AVIC I has 47 large- and medium-sized facilities, 31 science and technology research institutes, and 22 specialized companies and institutions. It employees 230,000 people and its assets exceed $20 billion US. In 2007, AVIC I delivered $470 million US in subcontracted aeronautical products, with a 30 per cent annual growth over three consecutive years.

About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2008, were $17.5 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes.

Source : Bombardier