Bombardier Wins Order From Cathay Pacific Airways for
Advanced Pilot Training
MONTREAL, QUEBEC-- FEBRUARY 27, 2001 - 13:16 EST
Second airline to select Learjet(R)45 for specialized role
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Cathay Pacific Airways,
one of the world's most prestigious airlines, has placed one firm
order and one option for the Learjet 45 business jet for use in
its newly developed, advanced pilot training program.
Finalized during Team Canada's recent visit to China, the contract
will see the initial Learjet 45 introduced into the training
program in the third quarter of 2001.
The aircraft will be operated and maintained by BAE Systems Flight
Training (Australia) Pty. Limited, on behalf of Cathay Pacific
Airways, at its flight school at Parafield near Adelaide in South
Australia. BAE will use the aircraft to train pilots, to meet the
airline's future fleet growth. Cathay Pacific will be responsible
for recruiting new pilots.
"We are delighted to welcome Cathay Pacific as a customer,"
declared Shawn Vick, senior vice-president, international sales,
Bombardier Aerospace, Business Aircraft. "This is a major
endorsement and it reflects the Learjet 45's emergence as the
preferred aircraft for advanced pilot training. "We're confident
that, as the crew requirements of Cathay Pacific grow, the fleet
will too."
Meeting evolving training needs
Following the strong growth of the airline industry, and
recognizing the need to raise the level of "real time" flying,
Cathay Pacific Airways becomes the second Asia-based airline to
utilize the Learjet 45 for advanced pilot training purposes.
Cathay Pacific Airways will be introducing advanced jet training
to its current and future crew.
After an exhaustive analysis of its needs and the compatibility of
business aircraft with its fleet of Boeing 747, 777 and Airbus
330/340 widebody airliners, Cathay Pacific Airways selected the
Learjet 45 as the aircraft of choice for this role. "The degree
of cockpit technology and similarity with our mainline fleet was a
major factor behind the choice," declared Capt. Ken Barley,
director flight operations, Cathay Pacific. "What also helped
shape this decision is the comparable certification standard of
the Learjet 45, to our B777 and A330/340" said Capt. Barley.
"Moreover, the Learjet 45 showed itself to have comparable
economics to the significantly smaller aircraft we considered"
commented Capt. Barley. "Overall, the Learjet 45 is a very
relevant choice for our requirements," said Capt. Barley.
In the advanced pilot training role, Cathay Pacific Airways'
Learjet 45 will be operating at over 1,000 flying hours per year
and several thousand aircraft cycles. To date, the fleet of
Learjet 45s utilized in the advanced training role has already
accumulated over 6,000 flying hours and has surpassed the
10,000-cycle-mark.
Strong sales growth
This latest breakthrough comes as the Learjet 45 is experiencing a
highly successful period of sales. Bombardier Aerospace has
delivered more than 100 Learjet 45 business jets since the
aircraft first entered into service, less than 21/2 years ago.
The fastest-selling Learjet business jet, since the Learjet 24*
series, it has already captured a large share of the super-light
business jet category.
Bombardier's all-new Learjet 45, which flies faster, farther and
with more passengers than any other aircraft in its class,
received its U. S. FAA type certificate on May 6, 1998 and
European JAA approval in July 1998. In the United States, the
Learjet 45 was the first aircraft certificated to the requirements
of FAR Part 25, Amendment 77, surpassing the standards achieved by
the Airbus 330/340. It is also the only business jet under 35,000
lbs (15,874 kg) to receive type approval from the JAA which,
following certification to Change 13, equaled the certification
level achieved by the Boeing 777. To date, the Learjet 45 has
received type approval from 22 JAA member countries and several
other international countries including Canada.
The eight-to-nine passenger Learjet 45 operates at speeds up to
Mach .81 and altitudes up to 51,000 feet (15,545 m) above sea
level, and has a range of 2,120 nautical miles (3,926 km) with
four passengers and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) reserves. As of
December 2000, the fleet had accumulated more than 46,672 flying
hours.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the leading
business, regional and amphibious aircraft manufacturer. With
full design and production capabilities in three countries, it
offers the most comprehensive families of turboprop and regional
jet aircraft and the widest range of business jets. It also
provides the Flexjet(R) fractional business aircraft ownership
program, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot
training for business, regional airline and military customers.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset
management. The Corporation employs 56,000 people in 12 countries
in North America, Europe and Asia, and more than 90 per cent of
its revenues are generated outside Canada.
(R) Registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or Learjet Inc.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc. |
