Page 35 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2016 Online Magazine

NEWS

Bombardier Sells Amphibious Aircraft Program to Viking Air
Bombardier has reached a definitive Executive officer, Bombardier Inc. “While
Cessna Marks Major Milestone for agreement, with British Columbia- the Amphibious Aircraft program is part of
Citation Longitude Business Jet based Viking Air Limited for the sale of our long history, this divestiture positions
In a major milestone for the revolutionary its Amphibious Aircraft program. The Bombardier to better focus on our core,
Cessna Citation Longitude super- agreement will cover the Type Certificates higher growth businesses; business jets,
midsize jet, the Cessna Aircraft Company for all variants of the aircraft, the CL- commercial aircraft and rail transportation.”
announced that it successful powered 215, the CL-215T and the Bombardier 415 The Canadian airframer has announced
the electrical distribution system on the aircraft as well as after-market services. that plans are underway to transfer the 50
aircraft, marking a major step towards The deal is subject to regulatory approval Amphibious Aircraft program employees
the maiden flight of the type, which and fulfilment of other conditions, which to other parts of the Bombardier
is expected later this year. The latest are expected to be concluded before the organization as result of the sale. Close to
milestone follows just three weeks after end of the year. Bombardier had paused 170 Bombardier amphibious aircraft are in
the company successfully mated the wing its amphibious aircraft programmes last service worldwide. Drawing on the success
and fuselage of the first Longitude in year and a single amphibious aircraft of the Bombardier’s earlier CL-215 and
May. “We continue to meet our milestones has not been produced since December CL-215T versions, the Bombardier 415 was
through an industry-leading development 2015. “This transaction supports our goal launched in 1994, quickly establishing itself
schedule in order to get the Longitude of rebuilding a clear path to profitable as the only purposely built firefighting
into the hands of our customers,” said earnings growth and cash generation,” aircraft in the world.
Scott Ernest, president and CEo, Textron said Alain Bellemare, President and Chief
Aviation. “The power on stage allows
our team to begin verifying the aircraft’s
electrical power system and paves the (HAK) and Chengdu (CTU), during the
way for functional tests and engine runs course of the eight-day trip. The flights
that will get us to first flight in the coming will be operated by Airbus flight crews.
months.” The clean-sheet design Cessna MSN002 is one of Airbus’ fleet of five
Citation Longitude is a super-midsize test A350-900 aircraft and features a
jet, with a stand-up, flat-floor cabin that distinctive “Carbon” signature livery which
can accommodate up to 12 passengers. reflects the use of advanced materials in
Power comes from twin FADEC-equipped the construction of the new generation
Honeywell HTF7700L turbofan engines wide-body jetliner. It is one of the two
with fully integrated auto throttles. The aircraft in the Airbus A350XWB test fleet
cockpit features a Garmin G5000 flight Airbus Commences A350XWB to have a fully functional cabin (42 business
deck with head-up display and enhanced China Demonstration Tour class and 210 economy class seats). The
vision capability. The Longitude can Airbus has announced the start of its first newest Chinese customer for the A350
achieve a maximum cruise speed of 476 ever demo tour of China for the Airbus is China Eastern Airlines, which placed
knots and has a high-speed range of 3,400 A350XWB. The tour will commence from orders for 20 A350-900s this April. Air
nautical miles. June 25th and will end on July 2nd. A350 Chine has also placed orders for 10 A350-
XWB test aircraft MSN2 (Manufacturer 900s. Airbus has received approximately
Serial Number) will fly to Beijing (PEK), 800 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 42
Shanghai (SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), Haikou customers worldwide, till date.

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