ILA '2000: Bombardier Delivers its 50th Global Express
Business Jet, 'Ultimate' Corporate Jet Providing Superior
Range, Cabin Comfort and Value
BERLIN, GERMANY--JUNE 7, 2000--Bombardier Aerospace today announced the recent
delivery of its 50th Global Express(R) business jet aircraft.
The aircraft, s/n #9057, rolled off Bombardier's assembly line in
Toronto in late May and immediately flew to Bombardier's Montreal
completion facility for customized interior completion. It is
scheduled to enter service with an international operator, based
in the Middle East, in the first quarter of next year.
"We are delighted to mark the 50th delivery of Bombardier's
flagship aircraft," declared Rob Gillespie, president, Bombardier
Aerospace, Business Aircraft. "It is a tribute to the men and
women across Bombardier Aerospace - and also to the employees of
our program partners - that we have achieved such a key milestone.
"It speaks highly of their skills and dedication - and also amply
illustrates the warm reception being awarded to the Global Express
by the corporate aircraft community.
"Bombardier's all-new business jet offers the largest cabin of any
true corporate aircraft, a top cruise speed that reaches nearly
the speed of sound and, at any speed, the longest non-stop range
in corporate aviation."
The first Global Express entered corporate service in July 1999.
As of May 31, the in-service fleet had grown to more than a dozen
aircraft and accumulated some 4,450 flight hours, with a dispatch
reliability of 98.3 per cent.
The positive milestone comes as Bombardier Aerospace is quickening
the pace of completions and strengthening its worldwide customer
support network for the aircraft.
Market interest in the Middle East and Gulf Region continues to be
strong thanks to Bombardier's sales team, working closely together
with TAG Aeronautics representatives. "We're very pleased that
this special aircraft will be flown by a customer in our region,"
observed Eric Kerub, vice-president, TAG Aeronautics.
Increased completion capacity
Bombardier recently increased its Global Express completion
capacity by striking partnerships with three subcontractors to
conduct interior and avionics completion. They include BFGoodrich
of Everett, Wash., Marshall Aerospace of Cambridge, U.K., and The
Jet Center of Van Nuys, Calif.
With Bombardier's own completion centers in Montreal, Canada, and
Tucson, Arizona, completion center employees have grown by 900
specialists over the past 12 months to support Bombardier's
delivery schedule.
Enhanced support
As increasing numbers of Bombardier Global Express aircraft enter
service, Bombardier has also been building on its worldwide
network of maintenance facilities equipped to support the Global
Express: two in Europe, two in North America and one in Asia.
Bombardier's factory service center in Europe - Lufthansa
Bombardier Aviation Services at Berlin Schânefeld Airport - also
recently received its JAR 145 maintenance station approval from
the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) to service the
Global Express. It becomes the second facility equipped to
provide Global Express maintenance in Europe, joining Marshall
Aerospace in the United Kingdom, a Bombardier-authorized service
facility.
In North America, Bombardier Aerospace also recently appointed
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group as an authorized service facility
for the Global Express aircraft in Montreal. It joins
Bombardier's factory service center in Tucson, Arizona, which was
the first facility equipped to conduct maintenance on the
aircraft.
In Asia, JAMCO of Sendai, Japan, is an authorized service facility
for Global Express aircraft.
The Global Express, developed with international partners in a
unique risk-sharing arrangement, offers numerous advantages over
competing aircraft in its category and sets new standards in
business aviation. These include a cruise speed that reaches
nearly the speed of sound as well as the ultra long-range
capabilities needed to bring destinations closer home in less
time.
TAG Aeronautics, a subsidiary of the TAG Group S.A., is an
exclusive representative and distributor in 22 Middle East and
Arab countries for the Challenger(R) 604, Canadair Special
Edition*, the Bombardier Global Express, the Canadair Regional
Jet(R) and the new CRJ Series 700 airliner.
Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is the world's
premier 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 fractional 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. Bombardier's revenues
for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2000, totalled $13.6 billion
Cdn.
(R) Registered trademark of Bombardier Inc.
* Trademark of Bombardier Inc. |
