Page 6 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AVIATION TRENDS

Design to Deliver

The line between success and failure for a brand new aircraft type is a thin one
By JK Chandra

A CLEAN SHEET AIRCRAFT DESIGN CAN gamble was to design an all new aircraft,
deliver unprecedented performance and to compete with Embraer’s E 195 and
efficiency gains that revolutionise the E190-E2 with the CS 100 and Airbus A319,
industry. The costs to design, develop, test, A319neo (typically 124-156 seats), Boeing
certify and deliver a commercial jetliner 737-700 and 737-7MAX (typically 126-
or business jet, to expectant customers 149 seats), with its larger CS 300. The C
however, are exorbitant and missteps can Series features path breaking innovations,
prove costly. The journey from market possible only with a clean sheet design
leader to market laggard, hinges not using state-of-the-art technology.
only successful product development Swiss airframer Pilatus, has had a
but also on identifying the right market far easier time with its brand new PC-24
niche. We take a look at two aircraft ‘Super Versatile Jet’. The development
programs that are of vital importance to of a new type can be fraught with risk
their manufacturers and their progress. especially when seeking to replicate
Canadian airframer Bombardier had the success of a strong selling type.
hoped that it’s all-new clean sheet design Missteps can quickly spiral out of
C Series family of single aisle airplanes, control, demanding additional resources
would attract the interest of airlines in in time, money and manpower. Swiss
the market for short-haul airliners, in based airframer, has a long history of
the 100-150 seat category. Bombardier’s successfully identifying market niches, be
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