Challenger 300

[Barberpole]

Can anyone with Challenger 300 experience tell me how they like the airplane and how it performs?

 

[GCAP]

It is a great airplane, performs as advertised. Goes right to 430, .80, coast to coast. Gross wt. increase coming soon, something over 40000. New ones are quiet in the cockpit, pax love them, Pro line is great.
On the negative side.....No autothrottles and the flight director will take you through your altitude anytime you have a high rate of climb. I believe that it is the best in it's class.

 

[YOMERO_FLY]

Love it once you get through the lousy SIM and start flying the real Airplane. Some problems with Hydraulics but once you learn some tricks you will not have any problems. Some MX issues we had had Inboard brakes fail (indication problem), FDC fail (changed it out). You do have to get use to constantly trimming the rudder, and expect the autopilot to chase and overshute a little.

 

[thatpilotguy]

It's pretty bullet proof. I was surprised to see that in the 2 years we have operated it we have not had one AOG (knock on wood.) We changed an engine drive hydraulic pump and a Generator Control Unit card. Nothing to complain about.

There is an on going Electrical Hydraulic pump issue that should have a fix here soon. As mentioned previously it's a procedure change to avoid bigger problems, not a big deal really.

It performs as advertised. With IFS some new interior options coming it's hard to find something better in the same class.

Thankfully is doesn't break down so as a result you don't have to deal with Bombardier all that often. With that said, we did have a drop in visit to a service center as a result of a bird strike. We where in an out under the original cost estimate and 3 days earlier than the original time estimate. We where impressed, especially for a company not known for the customer support/service.

 

[GSXR600]

great airplane haven't flown it much but its performance is outstanding, can get in and out very short runways and I mean very short. Also very fuel efficient.

 

[Nolife]

Just starting ground school and systems but so far it's nice and designed for idiots like me. Electrical system takes 30 minutes to teach and couldn't be easier. Operationally I've heard nothing but good things from the guys flying them.

 

[Iflewjetz]

I agree with the performance aspect. It performs great. I was on a 11000 downwind out of Burbank last week going to the East coast. You can easily go from East coast to west without a hitch. We had one problem out of Eagle this summer when it was 95F and they had the first 1000 Ft closed and the winds favored one runway. We had to pop over to PUB to get the remaining fuel. The rudder and yaw dampener are my biggest gripes. Along with the level off FD. In turbulence it stills pivots pretty good. Only one YD. You have to trim the rudder climbing and descending. Other than that it is a comfortable airplane and fun to fly. Training was a breeze. James Cramm at Bombardier was probably one of the best and most knowledgeable instructor I have ever had. You will have fun. Plus you will see the program director, Jim Helms, in some Walker Texas Ranger episodes.

 

[GSXR600]

I agree with the performance aspect. It performs great. I was on a 11000 downwind out of Burbank last week going to the East coast. You can easily go from East coast to west without a hitch. We had one problem out of Eagle this summer when it was 95F and they had the first 1000 Ft closed and the winds favored one runway. We had to pop over to PUB to get the remaining fuel. The rudder and yaw dampener are my biggest gripes. Along with the level off FD. In turbulence it stills pivots pretty good. Only one YD. You have to trim the rudder climbing and descending. Other than that it is a comfortable airplane and fun to fly. Training was a breeze. James Cramm at Bombardier was probably one of the best and most knowledgeable instructor I have ever had. You will have fun. Plus you will see the program director, Jim Helms, in some Walker Texas Ranger episodes.

You are correct!! My god!! this guy knows that airplane better anyone in there....and the funny thing is that he is not a pilot, he is a mechanic that likes pilots (kind of strange) and knows how to teach very well.

 

[g4800xp]

I have never had a instructor that knew his plane better than James, not in 18 years. You can not stump him.

The plane is a great performer, nice size cabin, nice avionics and is a heck of an airplane.
Makes for happy passengers.

However the interior in my airport sh#@ box commuter car was built with more attention to detail and quality. The galley sucks, makes a Hawker Galley look big. No storage, yet it can stay aloft 7+ hours. Microwave to small for a large dinner plate.
No jumpseat cert for T/O or Landing. The autopilot makes you look bad and hand flying makes you look worse.

But it is a lot of plane for the money!

 

[Iflewjetz]

I have never had a instructor that knew his plane better than James, not in 18 years. You can not stump him.

The plane is a great performer, nice size cabin, nice avionics and is a heck of an airplane.
Makes for happy passengers.

However the interior in my airport sh#@ box commuter car was built with more attention to detail and quality. The galley sucks, makes a Hawker Galley look big. No storage, yet it can stay aloft 7+ hours. Microwave to small for a large dinner plate.
No jumpseat cert for T/O or Landing. The autopilot makes you look bad and hand flying makes you look worse.

But it is a lot of plane for the money!

I was laughing my a$$ off when I read this. We have a "Barbie" oven. It is about as big as my daughters easy bake oven. It smells the cabin up like someone took the Browns to the Super Bowl. I keep looking to change the 100 watt bulb in the oven just like the Easy Bake. You are right about storage. Sucks! Autopilot===sucks!! Crosswind---Sucks! But I do like the big bathroom. On long legs you can take a break and stretch and pee in peace. I had a first last week. Someone dropped a stink pickle in the bathroom on the way from the West coast. I would have shy sphincter with that small door hiding your grunts. I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go.

 

[GSXR600]

Cabin set up doesn’t bother me. What really bothers me is the set up in the cockpit.
That pax oxygen system is very easy to deploy since is soo close to APU start button. You really have to be careful when u reach down and start that APU if you are not looking. Also those fire switches sitting almost abeam your seatbelts, they can very easy be pushed if u just unbuckle and not holding on to that strap, if you constantly have to get in and out the cockpit while u flying. Heard that Flex had an engine shutdown in flight cz someone thru a candy bar into the cockpit and hit one of the fire switches that was guarded it. Apparently the design of the switch even with guarded protection ON, can still be triggered very easy………..anyway I just think this airplane was not design to be on a rush.

 

[Iflewjetz]

That pax oxygen system is very easy to deploy.

We have deployed them a couple of times. One with the foot and one just bumping into it. Once it happened just as the pax walked up the stairs. He turned to the cabin, looked and turned to us and said "you didn't have to decorate just for me" embarrassing. He was cool about it. We have since found bottle caps that fit over it or hair spray caps to help us not hit it.

 

[LJ45]

speaking with the CL300 Demo pilots, Bombardier is aware of this, but at the snails pace they move...who knows when they will correct the switch position and cockpit ergonomics.

Maybe at the upcoming block change with the "new" interior.