Bombardier's new C-Series

This one was like six months ago, but just a warm up for those of you who forgot the spex and a preview for those of you who have never heard of this thing.

Bombardier plans new class of jets

by Ian Goold

FARNBOROUGH 2004 • JULY 19, 20, 21

Bombardier Aerospace has promised 15 to 20 percent lower cash operating costs (compared with current and recently out of production aircraft) in its proposed “C Series” new commercial aircraft family for which first details were released here yesterday. The company wants to pick up where illustrious names such as British Aerospace, McDonnell Douglas and Fokker left off by producing an “optimized” aircraft at the “lower end of the 100- to 150-passenger market.” It would replace designs like the BAe 146, DC-9/MD-80, and F70 and F100, and others such as the Boeing 737-100/200/300/400/500 that will be retired by 2010. About 3,900 examples of these types remain in service “without a suitable replacement,” said Bombardier.

Estimating a 5,800-aircraft, $250 billion market for such machines over the coming 20 years, executives with the Canadian airframer plan to request formal board approval to proceed in early 2005. The project, which could lead initially to a four-variant family, is still “very much in the study phase,” conceded new commercial-aircraft program president Gary Scott.

The C Series will begin with 1,800- and 3,250-nm versions of basic 110- to 115-seat and stretched 130- to 135-seat models. Target performance will include a 99-percent dispatch reliability at service entry, which is expected to occur “no later than 2010,” said Scott.

The 100- to 149-seat sector represents 13 percent of the total 20-year airliner market, according to Bombardier. Demand is being driven by regional operators which are moving into larger equipment, by low-cost cariers and major airlines “filling in 100-seat capacity” and the need to replace the main fleet. Scott said the new aircraft could be used to introduce new hub-and-spoke destinations and to serve smaller city-pairs.

The manufacturer’s strategy involves initial development of the short-range baseline C Series 110 that would be certified concurrently with the heavier, longer-range C Series 110LR. Bombardier would then expect to move on to the larger derivative, with all four variants sporting the same 110-foot 5-inch-span wing planform.

Bombardier told a press conference here that previous aircraft in this sector have involved compromising designs that included upsizing (Embraer 195) or downsizing (Airbus A318 and A319, Boeing 737-600 and -700) from projects optimized for other capacities.

Preliminary drawings of the proposed C Series show a typical five-abreast layout with 32-inch seat pitch. Claiming a “best-in-class” cabin width of 11 feet 4 inches at seat level, Bombardier said there would be a 23 inch-wide aisle between the blocks of 18.5-inch-wide seats that are to be separated by three-inch middle armrests.

Maximum take off and landing weights are given as 123,000 to 151,000 pounds and 112,000 to 129,000 pounds, respectively, for the baseline and stretched variants. Payload would be 31,000-39,000 pounds, and the cabin overhead storage area will be able to accommodate up to 105 bags in the baseline aircraft.

NOW that the cost-and-size-cuttin’ Paul Tellier and his buddies are gone, suspectably over the development of new aircraft series, i think the roadblock for Bombarider’s re-rise is gone.

Seriously, you can’t just galvanise AEROSPACE companies by simply cutting cost. It is much MUCH more complex than that, and i think this is where Tellier fell.

(And plus, i don’t think the amount of profit matters overwhelmingly to the Bombardiers. Most of their income come from real estate and other stuff anyways. Bombardier Inc, is really just for pride.

Another one, more recent:

MONTREAL.CBC.CA News – Full Story :

Bombardier offered incentives to build C-series jet
Last Updated: Jan 14 2005 09:42 AM EST

MONTREAL – The federal government has offered an incentive package to Bombardier to build its proposed new C-series jet in Canada.

Bombardier has sites vying for its jet program.

Terms of the offer will not be announced before it decides whether to go ahead with production, a Bombardier spokesperson says.

Bombardier says Ottawa made the offer last month. Federal Transport Minister Jean Lapierre acknowledged Thursday that Canada is in negotiations with the company to create the C-series in Canada.

“How far are we ready to go? Well, we’ll see, the discussions are evolving but obviously we cannot just say it’s an open bar and ask us for whatever you want,” he said.

The Quebec government has promised $750 million in loan guarantees for the aerospace firm. Those guarantees are designed to encourage sales of its 30-50-seat regional jet.

From Dec. 9, 2004: Quebec provides Bombardier $750M in loan guarantees for jets

At least three American states as well as Belfast, Ireland, are courting Bombardier to build its new jet on their turf.

The C-series, if produced, would represent Bombardier’s first attempt to compete directly with 100-plus seat jets made by Airbus and Boeing.

The company will decide in late February or early March whether to proceed with the production run, which is estimated at $2.1 billion US, excluding the engine.

Bombardier has said it will contribute $700 million, or one-third, of the C-series production costs.

It wants governments and suppliers to put up the rest. Bombardier has benefited from federal subsidies in recent years.

Lapierre acknowledges Canada needs the project and jobs, but he says he’s not prepared to play hardball. “We’re not going to negotiate with threats at this time,” he said.

So, opinions, anything, on this new proposed jet?
(btw, i dunt think companies like boeing, airbus, embraer and bombardier really have a choice about where they build their factories. the only reason bombardier have factories in US and Northern Ireland is cuz they were bought by bombardier in its expansion. if bombardier builds its factory anywhere but Quebec, Canada (it is VERY reliant on the support and credit from the Quebec government as well) subsidies and credit will halt. cuz really, aeospace is very much a national industry. The whole thing about 3 US states and UK bidding for the factory is just PR to convince people that subsidies should be given to bombardier.)