Bombardier's New Aircraft On Track

Bombardier say its CSeries CS100 aircraft will be certified by year end,despite a lack of firm order flow so far this year.The Montreal-based transport manufacturer remains fully committed to the new plane.Vice President of Business Acquisition Ross Mitchell said they were in discussions with potential European customers and the first CS100 is on track for delivery to Swiss Air International in the first half of 2016.
The CS100 is one of a new line of narrow body twin engine airliners.The jet is designed to compete with the Airbus A320 family;the Boeing 737 series;and Embraer's 190 series,among others.Test flights began on 16 September 2013.*
The CS100 features a 2-2,2-2 seating arrangement-meaning no middle seats;larger windows;more overhead luggage bin volume;and wider aisles than the other narrow bodies.Its 70% advanced materials proportion,including composites and titanium/aluminium,will give the aircraft a 15% lower seat mile cost and lower maintenance costs,Bombardier points out.*
Bombardier Inc A(BDRAF):NASDAQ,(BBD/B):TO

Business-Jet Orders May Decline

Canadian manufacturer Bombardier may be getting fewer orders for business-jets.The Montreal firm said industry-wide orders,except for very light jets,are expected to slow to around 1,000 in 2009,from 1400 this year.Bombardier makes Learjet,Global Express and Challenger corporate jets.It has an overall aircraft backlog of 26.1 billion dollars to shore up earnings during the financial crisis.The company will reshuffle its order book to permit customers who want jets sooner to pay in full.Others will have more time to arrange financing.Bombardier also manufactures rail cars.