By Skies Magazine | October 21, 2019 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 51 seconds.
Bombardier has announced an increased range for its Global 5500 business jet at NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). The aircraft has an improved range of 5,900 nautical miles (nm), 200 up from the original 5,700 nm range, at Mach 0.85.
“We are thrilled to offer this extended range to our customers,” said David Coleal, president, Bombardier Aviation. “The rigour and innovation behind our Global 5500 aircraft design and test program have allowed us to deliver enhanced performance without compromise. Not only are we standing by our commitment of certifying and bringing to the market an exceptional aircraft on time, we are exceeding expectations along the way.”
Coleal also stressed that operators looking to extend the original range of their Global 5500 will not be charged if they approach Bombardier to make the adjustment on the original aircraft.
When asked how Bombardier managed to get the range up on the Global 5500, Coleal said: “As you go through the flight test regimes, you have certain thresholds you’re going to commit to meeting — engine performance, aerodynamic performance — and we’re able to then commit to releasing those margins. We felt very comfortable based on the performance of the flight test that we can release that range number.”
Along with that news, the Quebec-based OEM announced that it will be opening a pair of line maintenance stations at two locations crucial for business aviation in the U.S. — Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and Van Nuys Airport in California.
“We are committed to ensuring our customers receive an exceptional experience and this expansion is an integral part of our overall mission to enhance OEM support for our operators throughout the U.S. and around the globe,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, vice-president and general manager of Customer Experience for Bombardier. “These two new locations are part of an unprecedented acceleration of support offerings that includes new Mobile Response Trucks, aircraft and more technicians across our network.”
These new locations will bring the number of Bombardier’s new line maintenance stations up to 11, to go along with a network of 38 authorized service facilities worldwide.
