Bombardier C Series program starts ramp-up to full production

Montréal – Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s C Series aircraft program has begun the ramp-up to full production. The final assembly facility is fully equipped and production is progressing according to plan with aircraft in various stages of the build sequence, according to the company. Additionally, Bombardier also confirmed that the CS100 aircraft that is scheduled to be delivered to first operator SWISS International Air Lines (SWISS) and enter service in Q2 2016 is structurally complete.

 

SWISS’ flight crews have kicked off their CS100 aircraft flight training in Mirabel, Québec, where they will undergo intensive training to prepare for the route-proving flights they will operate alongside Bombardier’s flight crew when the CS100 route-proving aircraft flies to Europe in the coming weeks. This follows the completion of the North American route-proving program that included more than 35 cities. During the program, the CS100 aircraft conducted flights using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures.

 

Fred Cromer, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said, “I had the pleasure of welcoming the first set of SWISS crews to Mirabel as they start their pilot training in anticipation of the European CS100 aircraft route-proving program. The program will be operated from SWISS’ own base in Zurich, Switzerland.”

 

“Our C Series Program and Engineering teams are working diligently alongside our Customer Services team – transferring employees to various areas for cross-functional training and aircraft familiarization,” said Rob Dewar, vice president, C Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “SWISS’ flight crews, once trained, will operate the CS100 route-proving aircraft alongside Bombardier’s own flight crews from SWISS’ main base of operations. They will use SWISS’ schedule, crews, maintenance crews, and aircraft destinations – all in the coming weeks.”

 

In December 2015, Bombardier’s CS100 aircraft received its type certificate from Transport Canada. Bombardier’s larger model CS300 aircraft is on track to obtain its type certificate within the next six months as planned. Bombardier will continue to work with Transport Canada to validate the CS100 aircraft’s training syllabus.