By Skies Magazine | July 7, 2016 Estimated reading time 6 minutes, 14 seconds.
A brilliant display of morphing graphics were projected onto the CS100 C-FFCO, which was whited out for the purpose of the delivery celebrations. Andy Cline Photo
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft celebrated the delivery of its first C Series aircraft on June 29, as it handed over serial number 50010 to CS100 launch customer, Swiss Air Lines International (SWISS).
In a special ceremony that brought together dignitaries, senior Bombardier executives, industry partners and international media, the first of the much-anticipated C Series airliners was handed over to SWISS management.
The jet becomes the first of 30 C Series aircraft—20 CS100s and10 CS300s—to be delivered to the Lufthansa Group subsidiary. Its arrival in Zurich on June 30 will be followed by two more deliveries in July and August.
The ceremony also included a spirited flight demonstration for 90 attendees, which will go down in Canadian aeronautical history as the CS100’s first North American passenger flight.
Bombardier Aerospace senior test pilot Esteban Arias demonstrated the aeronautical capabilities of the aircraft, including a steep dramatic takeoff, sharp banking at an altitude of about 10,000 feet, and a fast descent. The jet flew over the Mont Tremblant ski area and completed a fly-by of Bombardier’s Mirabel plant.
The aircraft’s short runway capabilities make it an attractive proposition for a worldwide audience. Leading African airline Ethiopian Airlines is reportedly considering the jet.
Passengers appreciated the intelligent interior styling, combined with the powerful thrust of the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines. Windows in the CS100 are 50 per cent larger than its closest competitors, and clever seat design, featuring a 19-inch pitch, combines comfort with superior space. Well-positioned, large overhead bins have been carefully configured to enhance the widest single-aisle cabin in the field, giving the narrowbody aircraft a widebody feel.
Rob Dewar, vice-president, C Series Aircraft Program, proudly announced in mid-flight, “The aircraft is the most advanced technological single-aisle on the market. A new aircraft program like the C Series aircraft comes around once in a lifetime and it’s a proud achievement that belongs to many.” The passengers on board certainly seemed to be enjoying the ride.
The SWISS CS100 aircraft will serve its first European commercial route on July 15, when it is scheduled to fly between Zurich and Paris. Schedules from Zurich to Manchester, UK; Prague, Czech Republic; and Budapest, Hungary will swiftly follow, with other European cities being added before year-end.
Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft (left), and Alain Bellemare, president and CEO, Bombardier Inc. Andy Cline Photo
Alain Bellemare, president and CEO of Bombardier Inc., opened the evening celebrations with heartfelt thanks to SWISS for sticking by Bombardier in good times and in bad. He added that the airline helped “keep the program alive.”
Thirty-four SWISS captains have already trained in Quebec on Bombardier’s CAE-built simulator, and further training will be conducted on the SWISS-owned simulator in Zurich.
Twenty maintenance engineers have also been trained in Mirabel to support the European operation.
While the C Series could have flown the passengers from Mirabel to Zurich in a single leg, SWISS CEO Thomas Klühr said the airline has no plans to take advantage of the aircraft’s long-haul capabilities. “We anticipate that a mix of business and leisure customers will enjoy our new aircraft and the passenger experience that it provides,” he said. “We will use the aircraft to fulfill an average flight of two hours and see it as complementing our existing fleet.”
SWISS will gradually replace its Avro RJ100 fleet with the C Series models. “We congratulate Bombardier and our own SWISS teams on this milestone delivery, as we now focus on the CS100 aircraft’s entry into service.” While it is too early to say exactly what the operating cost savings will be, Klühr is confident they will be significant.
On June 28, Air Canada firmed up its order for 45 CS300 jets, with options for 30 more.
Esteban Arias, chief pilot, and Daniel Dione, test pilot, flew media and guests on June 29. Andy Cline Photo
Bombardier is heading to the world’s largest aviation event, the Farnborough International Air Show, in a couple of weeks with 370 firm orders, around 300 letters of intent, an aircraft delivered, and more on the production line.
Recent positive news from the C Series program has gone a long way to quash speculation and silence critics. If the reaction of the 1,400 people attending the delivery ceremony at Mirabel is any kind of indication, things are beginning to look up for the Canadian OEM.
