Aerospace 18 - Delta CSeries

Bombardier expects to begin delivering CSeries aircraft to Delta Air Lines this year, saying there is no longer any restriction to delivering the CS100 straight from its Canadian assembly line to the Atlanta-based airline.

“Clearly, the Delta aircraft are in the skyline for 2018,” Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare told analysts February. 15th.  The recent 4-0 decision by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) canceling proposed tariffs on CSeries exports to the US removes any restrictions on CSeries deliveries.

The uncertainty surrounding the US Commerce Department’s intended duties on the CSeries forced Bombardier and Delta to postpone the originally planned April 2018 start of CS100 deliveries to Delta, which has 75 CS100s on firm order. 

Bellemare emphasized that plans for the Alabama, facility, are “moving full speed ahead,” explaining, “We believe it’s the right strategy to have a US facility to serve US customers.” But at least the first number of Delta deliveries can now come from Canada, he said.

Bellemare expects the Bombardier-Airbus CSeries deal to be approved by regulators later this year. “Integration planning is going extremely well,” he said. “We are ready to hit the ground running once we close, including construction of the Alabama facility as soon as possible.  2018 will be a pivotal year for Bombardier,” he said, forecasting that the company will move into “a strong growth phase” this year.

Aerospace 13 - Bombardier-Delta Air Lines Firm Order

Bombardier received a major boost Thursday from Delta Air Lines, which has placed a firm order for 75 CS100 aircraft with options for an additional 50 more in what would be the largest order for the Montreal company's troubled CSeries passenger jet program.

Based on the list price, the firm order is valued at approximately US$5.6 billion, Bombardier said. Delivery of the aircraft to Delta, one of the largest airlines in the world, is expected to begin in 2018.

"This is a big win,'' Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare said during a conference call.

Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) has been at the centre of political controversy in recent months and it's banking on the success of its CSeries planes to revive its flagging fortunes.

Alain Bellemare, left, president and CEO of Bombardier Inc., and Ed Bastian, right, CEO of Delta Air Lines, shake hands in front of a Delta-branded Bombardier C-Series jet in Mirabel, Que., on Thursday. (Photo: Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

Aerospace 12 - Great News

Bombardier Celebrates the Completion of its CS100 Aircraft’s Certification Flight Test Program

Behind schedule (The pundits keep telling us) but two years ahead of the competition.

Aerospace 10 - Bombardier CS300

The latest Bombardier CSeries aircraft, the larger CS300 variant made a successful flight from the Mirabel airfield in Quebec today.

http://cseries.com/#/category/videos

The flight lasted five hours and reached an altitude of 41,000 feet at a speed of 255 knots (470 km/h). “It was an absolute privilege to fly the first flight of the CS300 airliner and I’m absolutely ecstatic with how well it handled. It’s a pilot’s aircraft and handled exactly as predicted by simulation,” said Capt. Litavniks. “Pilots will find it easy to transition from the CS100 to the CS300 aircraft or vice versa, which will greatly reduce training costs for operators using both models”.

Bombardier is creating the future with its CSeries aircraft — the only 100% new family of airliners specifically designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market.  Benefitting from a clean-sheet design that includes leading-edge technology and systems integration, advanced materials and latest generation aerodynamics, the CSeries aircraft offer a 15% cash operating cost advantage, a 20% fuel burn advantage, exceptional operational flexibility, widebody comfort and an unmatched environmental and noise footprint.

Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 563 CSeries aircraft, which includes firm orders for 243.

The following link to a FlightGlobal magazine article is well-worth reading:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-is-air-show-debut-a-make-or-break-moment-for-412630/

Aerospace 9 - Bombardier CSeries

“Okay;  Now, pay attention”.  The head master said at this morning’s assembly.

“John;  What are you doing?  Don’t do that”.  There was a slight smile.

“It has come to my attention ....”  He looked down at his notes.

I have received some comments regarding the potential success of Bombardier’s new CSeries aircraft, and I should point out that, since the aircraft’s first flight on the 16th September, 2013, (See my Blog of the same date) four CS100

http://berniesblazon.blogspot.ca/2013/09/aerospace-6-its-innovation.html

flight test vehicles have been built and are happily flying down in Wichita, US.  In fact, about 850 certification test hours have been amassed on the aircraft to date.  Another, larger, CS300 version has been completed, and should fly within the next few weeks, following various ground tests.  The final CS300 flight test vehicle is in construction and should be available soon.

http://cseries.com/cs300-all-fired-up/

There are still concerns that that orders are below the numbers anticipated at this stage which is making many financial analysts concerned, but as this is a totally new technology for the industry as a whole, that shouldn’t be too surprising

It will be a somewhat tense year.