Bombardier unveils 'green' plane plan

[desmotronic]

With record oil prices crippling airlines worldwide, Canadian planemaker Bombardier said it planned to launch its eco-friendly CSeries single-aisle passenger jet in 2013.

German carrier Lufthansa has signed a letter saying it was interested in buying 30 CSeries jets and possibly up to 60, Bombardier said at Farnborough outside London.

Launch customer Lufthansa could be followed by other airlines after Bombardier said it had received "significant interest" worldwide regarding the new plane.

"The CSeries family offers the greenest single-aisle aircraft in its class," said Gary Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

"These game-changing aircraft emit up to 20 per cent less CO2 (carbon dioxide)... fly four times quieter, and deliver dramatic energy savings," he said.

The approximate list price of each CSeries aircraft, which will seat between 110 and 130 passengers, is $US46.7 million ($A48.5 million).

Bombardier made its announcement on Sunday, a day before the start of the week-long Farnborough International Air Show.

The event is a traditional battle ground between Airbus and Boeing for plane orders.

Oil-producing Gulf states were expected to make large orders for commercial planes at the biennial event thanks to extra revenue generated from soaring crude prices, which on Friday struck record heights above $US147 a barrel.

Soaring oil prices are an "opportunity", which will speed up orders for new, more fuel-efficient aircraft, the chief executive of US aircraft giant Boeing, James McNerney, said.

"The high price of oil is speeding up the process of the oldest, least efficient planes being taken out of service because they are no longer profitable," he told the weekly Journal du Dimanche.

New, fuel-efficient planes also include the Airbus A380 superjumbo and A350, as well as Boeing's Dreamliner.

Nico Buchholz, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Fleet, Lufthansa, said Bombardier's CSeries would meet the German airline's "stringent requirements for sustainable fleet development, both in terms of environmental and commercial requirements, and flexibility for the future".

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has said it is likely to announce orders of between 50 and 100 aircraft at Farnborough, but did not reveal which ones.

But analysts warn that publicly-owned airlines in countries suffering from inflation, the credit crunch and slowing or negative economic growth, may find it difficult to afford big deals at the air show.

In the first six months of this year alone, 25 airlines went bust or ceased operating and more could fold as fuel prices continued to rise, a spokesman for aviation industry association IATA said last week.

Casualties included airlines big and small from all regions, such as Cameroon Airlines, Denver-based Frontier Airlines and British-based business class airline Silverjet.

Over the weekend, Virgin boss Richard Branson told The Times newspaper there would be "some spectacular casualties" in the airline industry over the next year.

"One of the big American carriers will almost definitely go," he said.

[Shark Slayer]

Good to see.

Out of interest, was Nico Bucholz a pilot with Brymon(UK) years ago?

[Going Boeing]

http://www.asd-network.com/data_news/ID19698_600.jpg

Bombardier announces new model names for game-changing aircraft

(March 10, 2009) -- Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the launch customer for the CSeries aircraft program, has signed a firm purchase agreement for 30 CSeries model CS100 (formerly C110) single-aisle aircraft. These aircraft will be operated by Lufthansa's subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. The agreement also includes options on an additional 30 CSeries aircraft.

Based on list price, the contract value for the 30 CS100 aircraft is approximately $1.53 billion US.

The Lufthansa Group became the launch customer for the CSeries aircraft family in July 2008 when it signed a Letter of Interest (LOI) for up to 60 aircraft, including 30 options.

"Our purchase agreement with Bombardier for CSeries aircraft is a renewal of Lufthansa's commitment to commercial success balanced by environmental and business policies oriented toward sustainability and passenger comfort," said Nico Buchholz, Senior Vice President, Corporate Fleet, Lufthansa. "We are proud to be the launch customer for the CSeries family of aircraft which meets our requirements for sustainable fleet development including significant reductions in fuel burn and noise, as well as offering flexibility for the future."

"Having Lufthansa - known throughout the airline industry for its stringent engineering and technical standards - sign this purchase agreement for our CSeries aircraft, confirms their confidence in the airplane and the future of the program," said Gary R. Scott, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "We, at Bombardier, are delighted to have Lufthansa working with us from the beginning as we develop a family of aircraft designed specifically to meet the needs of the 100- to 149-seat market segment."

Source : Bombadier Aerospace

SWISS Investing in Further Fleet Renewal from 2014 on

New-generation Bombardier CSeries to replace Avro RJ100s

(March 11, 2009) -- SWISS is investing in its European aircraft fleet: from 2014 on, the carrier's Avro RJ100s will be gradually replaced by a new generation of "CSeries" aircraft from manufacturer Bombardier. The fleet renewal programme should be completed within just over two years. With its state-of-the-art powerplants and high-tech construction materials, the CSeries sets new operating benchmarks in cost-efficiency and environmental terms. Its high passenger comfort, lower operating costs, substantially quieter engines and fewer CO2 emissions were the prime criteria in SWISS's selection of the new aircraft type.

SWISS is to replace its present Avro RJ100 fleet with the first of a new generation of aircraft. The new CSeries from manufacturer Bombardier will feature state-of-the-art propulsion in its Pratt & Whitney geared turbofans, together with ultra-light construction materials such as carbon fibre and new aluminium alloys that will substantially reduce aircraft weight. As a result, the CSeries will consume well over a quarter less fuel than the present Avro RJ100 fleet. This will cut CO2 emissions by some 90 000 tonnes a year - the equivalent of 7000 flights between Zurich and London City Airport.

With its lower operating costs and its fewer pollutant emissions, the new CSeries combines economic efficiency with sound eco-credentials. The benefits extend inside the cabin, too, where the spacious interior promises top passenger comfort. With orders for 30 of the new transports, SWISS and the Lufthansa Group are acting as launching customer for Bombardier's CSeries, and will provide the prime impetus for the production and service introduction of the new aircraft family.

Strengthening European operations in the longer term

SWISS's present Swiss European fleet consists of 20 Avro RJ100s, which will be replaced by 20 new Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Under current plans, ten more CSeries transports will be delivered from 2016 onwards to permit further growth in SWISS's European operations.

"The short-haul segment is a key element in our network," stresses Harry Hohmeister, SWISS Chief Network & Distribution Officer. "With our choice of Bombardier's new CSeries, we are underlining the key role that Swiss European plays in our operations. In today's fiercely-contested air transport market, planning long-term product investments, raising efficiency companywide and continually reducing our costs can give us a vital competitive edge."

The new CSeries will enable SWISS to further cut its costs. With their lower maintenance costs and more fuel-efficient engines, the new transports will offer per-seat costs that are over 10 per cent lower than those of the Avro RJ100.

Halving of noise levels to benefit airport-area residents

The new CSeries aircraft will also be 10 to 15 decibels quieter than the present Avro RJ100s - more than half as quiet to the human ear. "By investing over a billion Swiss francs in our new aircraft fleet, we are sending a clear signal in noise and environmental terms," says SWISS CEO Christoph Franz. "And in doing so, we are also living up to our responsibilities towards the communities around the airports we serve."

Source : Swiss International Air Lines

[vigi-one]

It'll look good when painted with a rat on its tail.

Unfortunately for QLink it wont go there as half the 400 crews are on stress leave.

[Hugh Jarse]

Unfortunately for QLink it wont go there as half the 400 crews are on stress leave.We all know why, Vigi :ugh:

Kumar has always maintained the line that the 2 turboprop operators will always be just that. Sticking a "narrow body rate" clause in the EBA means nothing.

The addition of a narrow body clause and rate was a cleverly designed smoke screen (sweetener) by Dr. Evil and his thicky side kick Mini-Me to coax the SSA guys into ensuring the EBA got over the line (in the false hope they'll get a jet). Hell - it worked!:8

Anyone who's been around a while can see through the charade. The real reason the narrow body rate is there is to get NJS/Cobham to sharpen their pencils next time the Qantaslink jet contract comes around. Pretty simple tactics, really - Fat Bastard or Kumar will slap a copy of the SSA/EAA EBA on the table with "SSA/EAA can do it for $xxx". Of course, NJS/Cobham will match or better the rate, and the clause has achieved its aim - control the costs of the NJS/Cobham contract.

I feel sorry for the NJS crews who'll be on the receiving end of yet more downward pressure on their remuneration.:mad:

How could anyone even believe a jet is on it's way to SSA/EAA, when they won't even put the Q4 on the EAA AOC?:ugh:They're so hell-bent on keeping the SSA/EAA operations segmented that they can't even get remote bases to work!

I hope I'm wrong..............

My money's on NJS/Cobham or Alliance.:E

[DeafStar]

Hugh with all due respect the jet rate on the sunnies EBA was put there by the company. The boys agreed to it but very little time was spent on it. Do you really think all the Sunnies drivers think they are getting jets? Hell no. I heard that all they want is a manual suite that doesnt change every 2 mins.

[Hugh Jarse]

DeafStar, that's even more reason to question the company's intent if they put it there.... That kind of reinforces my conspiracy theory re: NJS, don't you think? :)

As for the manual suite changes every 5 minutes - That's what happens when you get a bunch of academics trying to turn what essentially is a very practical aeroplane into a space shuttle :ugh:They seem to know better than Bombardier :confused:

No wonder there's so much stress leave! Guys that have been great operators for almost 20 years now suddenly failing checks?

That just doesn't make sense...........

[newsensation]

The jet pay has been added to the Eastern EBA as well now....

[Toolman101]

Anyone who's been around a while can see through the charade. The real reason the narrow body rate is there is to get NJS/Cobham to sharpen their pencils next time the Qantaslink jet contract comes around. Pretty simple tactics, really - Fat Bastard or Kumar will slap a copy of the SSA/EAA EBA on the table with "SSA/EAA can do it for $xxx". Of course, NJS/Cobham will match or better the rate, and the clause has achieved its aim - control the costs of the NJS/Cobham contract.



I would be doubtful if Cobham will pursue unprofitable RPT contracts under the current CEO.:ugh:
More likely to look at defence contract work as it's more profitable in the current business climate:sad:

[J0N0]

Hugh

to coax the SSA guys into ensuring the EBA got over the line (in the false hope they'll get a jet). Hell - it worked!

Ya think?? All speculation of course but I would think/hope and give the majority of the sunnies guys more credit to have based the 'yes vote' more on what else was in the EBA rather than some speculation of a jet!!

How could anyone even believe a jet is on it's way to SSA/EAA, when they won't even put the Q4 on the EAA AOC?

But why would they bother?

It would cost the company money in administration costs etc to get the 400 on the EAA AOC and looks like its been flown all over the EAA network now (ML soon??) on the SSA AOC. Maybe there are some EAA guys taking the moral high ground on not bidding onto it until its on their own AOC??? But with something big(er) and shiny out on the flight line I reckon most of them will be having a go regardless. Not sure how the 400 being on one AOC or another has any bearing on whether the company will end up with a jet or not? Considering the EAA guys and being seconded to the SSA AOC ('temporary' SSA pilots) anyway!!

I agree though a jet would be unlikey in the short term (never say never) and your "conspiracy theory" re NJS certainly seems like a good card from a managment perspective!!

[Jet_A_Knight]

Everyone's pretty quiet about this development, but these babies are the real 'game changers'.

PurePower PW1000G (http://www.pw.utc.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=59ab4d845c37a110VgnVCM100000c45a529fRCRD )



From Low Fare & Regional Airlines Magazine:
PurePower PW1000G engine successfully completes Airbus tests

February 04, 2009

Pratt & Whitney has completed ground and flight testing of the PurePower PW1000G demonstrator engine. The final phase of testing was completed jointly with Airbus on an A340-600 flight test aircraft and included 27 flights and more than 75 hours of flight testing.

The PW1000G engine features Pratt & Whitney’s patented Geared Turbofan technology and targets double-digit reductions in fuel burn, engine noise, environmental emissions and operating costs.

The Airbus flight testing follows Pratt & Whitney’s own ground and flight test programme, during which the engine completed approximately 300 hours of ground testing and 12 flights on Pratt & Whitney’s Boeing 747SP flying test bed. The PW1000G demonstrator engine successfully completed all test objectives.

“It is truly unprecedented to complete this amount of testing on a technology demonstrator engine,” said Bob Saia, vice-president, Next Generation Product Family. “We were able to complete all flight test objectives with flawless engine operation. The Airbus A340 flight test programme included engine test evaluations normally conducted for production engine certification. This engine successfully demonstrated the performance and operational benefits of the its unique gear system.”

The most recent flight test programme assessed inflight performance, engine handling, inflight acoustics and aircraft installation of the demonstrator engine. Following removal from the Airbus A340 aircraft, Pratt & Whitney is now analysing the test data for engine design optimisation during the next several months.

“One of a kind demonstrator engines like this are typically designed to test for approximately 100 hours,” Saia explained. “It is extraordinary that the PW1000G demonstrator engine completed 406 hours of testing including a total of 120 hours in flight. The engine performed exceptionally throughout the programme, demonstrating both performance and reliability under extremely challenging tests such as high altitude aircraft flight manoeuvres exceeding two G’s of acceleration force. Thousands of data points taken during this test programme will enable our engineers to optimise the engine as we enter detailed design mid-year.”

The completion of the ground and flight test programme clears the way for detailed design of the production PurePower PW1000G engine for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and the Bombardier CSeries aircraft. Both types are scheduled to enter service in 2013.