Page 7 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AVIATION TRENDS

it with their military turbo-prop trainers best-in-class cabin, and carrying up to 15
(PC-7, PC-9 and PC-21) or commercial passengers more than initially promised.
offerings such as the PC-6 and PC-12. This will provide increased profitability and
The PC-24 ‘Super Versatile Jet’, is the market access for operators, along with
first Pilatus aircraft, powered by a jet convenience and comfort for passengers,”
engine. The light jet is being touted as as said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier
an airplane that can comfortably operate Commercial Aircraft. The airframer
in turboprop territory. The PC-24 program announced in June, that the C Series
got underway in May 2011, after years of was delivering a 20% advantage in fuel
deliberations with potential customers. burn compared to in-production aircraft
The careful and measured approach in and a 10% advantage for re-engined
developing a new type targeted at a specific aircraft. Range performance is also
market niche, in an area that Pilatus has improved, with the airplane now having a
seen very successful, has been vindicated maximum confirmed range improved by
by strong customer approval. approximately 350 NM (648 km) to 3,300
Bombardier’s decision to design a NM (6,112 km).
brand new airplane, has paid off in terms Launch airline SWISS, remains a
of performance, the issue for Bombardier staunch supporter and is slated to take
however, is in the slow uptake in orders. delivery of its first CSeries airplane, a
This is not helped by fuel prices that CS100, in the first half of 2016. “Following
have declined substantially and are now the performance results and flight test
at record lows. The CSeries has now not data, we are pleased that the CSeries
received a new order for nearly a year aircraft is very much in line with our
and Bombardier has accumulated 243 performance expectations and sustainable
orders. This is 57 airplanes short of the fleet requirements,” said Harry
target of having 300 firm orders before Hohmeister, Chief Executive Officer, Swiss
the type enters service. There now also International Air Lines. SWISS became
appears to also be a concern on some of the launch customer for the CSeries in
the orders not translating into deliveries, 2009, when parent Deutsche Lufthansa
for orders from Russia and the middle- AG (Lufthansa) concluded an order for 30
east. Thankfully for Bombardier, the C CS100 single-aisle aircraft. The airline
Series has exceeded expectations set has now chosen to now take delivery of
for fuel efficiency, payload and airfield 20 CS100 airplanes and 10 larger CS300
performance. “The C Series performance aircraft. According Fred, “The CS100
is better than advertised – while offering a aircraft provides the extraordinary field

ABOvE: The C Series
experience with launch
customer SWISS will be
keenly watched by other
potential customers
for the type. Entry into
service for the CS100 with
SWISS, is planned in the
first half of 2016

RIGHT: The clean sheet
design of the C Series
has delivered a spacious,
comfortable and relaxed
cabin environment for
passengers
WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM JULY / AUGUST 2015 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS 7