http://www.atwonline.com/indexfull.cfm?newsid=4301
Bombardier announces 110/135-seat CSeries
A new airliner family will enter service in 2010 in two sizes, 110 and 135 seats, if Bombardier can construct a persuasive business case and find an appropriate engine. Announced yesterday at Farnborough by Gary Scott, New Commercial Aircraft Program president, and Pierre Beaudoin, president and COO, the new CSeries would provide five-abreast coach seating with a range of 1,800-3,259 nm and cash operating costs some 15% below current-production aircraft and 20% lower than out-of-production aircraft, Scott said.
The program, currently in the feasibility study phase, may go before the Bombardier board for approval by late this year or early next year, leading to an industrial launch in mid-2005 to meet a 2010 EIS, Scott said. However, because "there is not an engine out there that achieves what we want to achieve," the manufacturer is in talks with engine builders to get proposals for a new powerplant, said John Holding, executive VP-integrated product definition and planning. That engine of 21,000-23,000 lb. thrust must have "reduced fuel consumption, maintenance costs, emission and noise," Holding told ATWOnline.
The Cseries cannot go ahead until the powerplant is selected--hopefully by year end--risk-sharing partners are identified among the ranks of vendors and government backing is acquired to support equal one-third shares of the approximate $2 billion development price tag along with the vendors and Bombardier, Beaudoin said. Assembly location will be dependent largely upon government support, he added.
The more-electric aircraft would feature fly-by-wire coupled sidestick controls, advanced cockpit displays and larger amounts of composites and advanced metals, but Holding said exact material usage has not been identified as yet.
Bombardier is aiming the program at a $250 billion slice of a market for 5,800 airplanes expected to be sold in the next 20 years. "We are developing a clearly differentiated product" set apart by its low cash operating costs, Scott said, with costs driven down by "a new engine, new materials, new aerodynamics, new systems, lower fuel burn and decreased maintenance."
The five-abreast cabin will feature 23-in. aisles and seats 18.5 in. wide at the armrests. The aircraft will have a maximum gross takeoff weight of between 123,000 and 151,000 lb. and a wingspan of 110 ft., with pronounced winglets to provide an aspect ratio of 9.5.
Scott said the Cseries will not be a regional aircraft but Bombardier's first "commercial" type. As for the source of the "C" in the designation, he said it was all the good C words such as "commercial competitive continental connector."--J. A. Donoghue
Bombardier announces 110/135-seat CSeries
A new airliner family will enter service in 2010 in two sizes, 110 and 135 seats, if Bombardier can construct a persuasive business case and find an appropriate engine. Announced yesterday at Farnborough by Gary Scott, New Commercial Aircraft Program president, and Pierre Beaudoin, president and COO, the new CSeries would provide five-abreast coach seating with a range of 1,800-3,259 nm and cash operating costs some 15% below current-production aircraft and 20% lower than out-of-production aircraft, Scott said.
The program, currently in the feasibility study phase, may go before the Bombardier board for approval by late this year or early next year, leading to an industrial launch in mid-2005 to meet a 2010 EIS, Scott said. However, because "there is not an engine out there that achieves what we want to achieve," the manufacturer is in talks with engine builders to get proposals for a new powerplant, said John Holding, executive VP-integrated product definition and planning. That engine of 21,000-23,000 lb. thrust must have "reduced fuel consumption, maintenance costs, emission and noise," Holding told ATWOnline.
The Cseries cannot go ahead until the powerplant is selected--hopefully by year end--risk-sharing partners are identified among the ranks of vendors and government backing is acquired to support equal one-third shares of the approximate $2 billion development price tag along with the vendors and Bombardier, Beaudoin said. Assembly location will be dependent largely upon government support, he added.
The more-electric aircraft would feature fly-by-wire coupled sidestick controls, advanced cockpit displays and larger amounts of composites and advanced metals, but Holding said exact material usage has not been identified as yet.
Bombardier is aiming the program at a $250 billion slice of a market for 5,800 airplanes expected to be sold in the next 20 years. "We are developing a clearly differentiated product" set apart by its low cash operating costs, Scott said, with costs driven down by "a new engine, new materials, new aerodynamics, new systems, lower fuel burn and decreased maintenance."
The five-abreast cabin will feature 23-in. aisles and seats 18.5 in. wide at the armrests. The aircraft will have a maximum gross takeoff weight of between 123,000 and 151,000 lb. and a wingspan of 110 ft., with pronounced winglets to provide an aspect ratio of 9.5.
Scott said the Cseries will not be a regional aircraft but Bombardier's first "commercial" type. As for the source of the "C" in the designation, he said it was all the good C words such as "commercial competitive continental connector."--J. A. Donoghue
