Jan 16 2014

Bombardier accounces nine month delay for CSeries program

Bombardier CSeries AircraftBombardier announced on January 16, 2014 that it would delay the in service date of the CSeries aircraft program until the latter half of 2015. The company indicated that a longer than expected test program was the cause for the nine-month delay. Bombardier also announced that the CS300’s entry into service date would be about six months after the CS100 enters service.

The CSeries, which saw its inaugural flight delayed three times, was scheduled to go into service a year later, though analysts had expected entry into service to be pushed back to early 2015. Bombardier had previously indicated that flight tests were going according to plan but would provide an update on the aircraft program’s entry into service schedule early this year.

Jan 15 2014

Embraer announces 2013 delivery numbers

Embraer LogoOn January 15, 2014, Embraer announced that the company had delivered 90 commercial aircraft in 2013, compared to 106 in 2012, including 32 commercial jets in the fourth quarter.

Commercial jet deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2013 were one Embraer 170, 12 Embraer 175s, 14 Embraer 190s and five Embraer 195s. For 2013, Embraer delivered four Embraer 170s, 24 Embraer 175s, 45 Embraer 190s and 17 Embraer 195s. Embraer’s firm order backlog at the end of 2013 included orders for one Embraer 170, 188 Embraer 175s, 73 Embraer 190s and 17 Embraer 195s. With Embraer delivering 90 commercial aircraft for the year, the company met its 2013 estimated aircraft delivery guidance, which the manufacturer predicted in February 2013 would be between 90 and 95 commercial aircraft.

Jan 08 2014

Second CSeries prototype takes to the air

Bombardier CSeries AircraftOn January 3, 2014, the second prototype CSeries aircraft FTV-2 had its maiden flight from Bombardier’s facilities in Montreal.  This was followed on January 8, 2014 by the two CSeries test aircraft making their first simultaneous flights but concerns about the slow pace of testing has some industry observers anticipating a delay in the CS100’s entry into service. The second CSeries test aircraft will test various systems, including electrical, hydraulic and pressurization systems.

One-third into the planned 12-month test flight program, the CSeries has had about 20 flights and less than 50 total flight hours since the maiden flight September 16, 2013 which represents two per cent of the 2,400 hours of actual testing required by the eventual five CS100 test aircraft before the type can enter service.

It has been forecast by various media speculation that Bombardier will not be about to put the CSeries into airline service before the beginning of 2015, possibly later. However, Bombardier is expected to announce future CSeries plans at some point in the next few weeks which will define the situation better.

Jan 02 2014

Bombardier adds seating capacity to Q400s

Q400 Dash 8 LogoClarifying its previously announced plans to increase the seating capacity of the base Q400 aircraft, Bombardier revealed that it would gain the additional interior space needed by converting the airplane’s forward baggage door into a passenger exit. A new interior design would also replace some of the aircraft’s cargo capacity with as much as another row and a half of passenger seats which would raise the Q400’s total seating capacity to 86 seats.

Bombardier will also have to limit seat pitch to 29 inches in order to fit 86 seats into the cabin, but if the seating capacity is reduced to 82 seats then a 30-inch seat pitch is possible.

Thai carrier Nok Air has signed an agreement to be the launch customer for the new Q400 option with a firm order for two Q400s with an option for another two aircraft. The airline also reserved purchase rights for four more airplanes. Nok Air plans to replace its ATR 72-500s with the larger Q400 aircraft.