Bombardier Launches C-Series
 

Bombardier launches CSeries jet

By Kevin Done in London
Published: July 13 2008 19:11 | Last updated: July 13 2008 20:35

Bombardier is launching a $3.4bn project to develop a new family of short-haul commercial jets backed by several hundred million dollars of state aid from the UK and Canada and with significant investment by the Chinese aerospace industry.
The initiative will be backed by several hundred million dollars of state aid from the UK and Canada, and with significant investment from the Chinese aerospace industry.
The CSeries family of 110-130-seat jets will be the largest industrial project undertaken by the Canadian aircraft and train manufacturer. It will also be the largest aircraft developed by Bombardier, bringing it into direct competition for the first time with the smallest jets made by Boeing and Airbus.
Research and development expenditure is expected to total about $2.6bn, financed one-third by Bombardier, one-third by governments and one-third by suppliers, with an additional $800m of capital investment in facilities.
The all-composite wings will be designed and assembled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where Bombardier is aiming to develop a global centre of excellence for composites manufacturing, as aircraft-makers gradually switch from aluminium to carbon-fibre for many aircraft structures.
The UK government and local and regional agencies are providing backing totalling £155m (€193m), including £25m of selective financial assistance grants and £130m of launch loans.
Investment in Belfast could reach £563m if the plant wins engine nacelle work as well as wing design and manufacture.
The fuselage, centre wing box and doors will be developed and supplied by Shenyang Aircraft Company, the Chinese industry’s biggest engagement in a western commercial jet programme.
The cockpit and rear fuselage will be developed by Bombardier in Canada, and the aircraft will be assembled at a new plant in Mirabel, near Montreal. The Canadian government is providing C$350m (€217m) in repayable support of R&D costs and Quebec is providing C$117m.
The CSeries is due to enter service in the second half of 2013.
It has been launched with initial backing from Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, which has signed a letter of intent to place a firm order for 30 aircraft with options to buy a further 30.
Bombardier is in discussions with several other potential launch customers including ILFC, the aircraft leasing group, and Qatar Airways.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008

Larger jets for RJ Pay. Good luck getting a 130 seat jet around scope.

*grumble grumble* this should be in the major airlines forums, along with the airplane.

Scope should keep them out of the hands of most US regionals...at least until the next round of bankruptcies.

I will vomit if this airplane finds its way to a regional airline.

Hey, it's built by bombardier...that makes it an RJ, right? :rolleyes:

No, the engines are under ther wings and it seats 4 across, so its a mainline aircraft. :rolleyes:

I don't want it on the regional fleet either.

another regional to get "big airplane syndrome"

Who said anything about regionals getting this?? I was under the impression this was a possible replacement for NW's DC-9's.

[quote=STILL GROUNDED;425306]No, the engines are under ther wings and it seats 4 across, so its a mainline aircraft. :rolleyes:
quote]

it's 5 across last time i looked