Charter leader Comlux Aviation today became the Swiss launch operator for the next generation Challenger 605 widebody business jet. Bombardier Aerospace announced that the operator is expected to take delivery of its new aircraft in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2007.
The aircraft will join Comlux Aviation’s modern fleet of five business jets -- including two Bombardier Challenger 604 widebody aircraft – available for private, business and group charter. “Our customers are already impressed with the large cabin, range and reliability delivered by our two Challenger 604 aircraft,” said Ettore Rodaro, president and CEO, Comlux Aviation. “I am confident that our discriminating clientele will be even more delighted by the new Challenger 605 aircraft’s restyled interior, larger windows and advanced cabin electronic system.”
The firm order for a Challenger 605 widebody jet, featuring advanced avionics and the largest cabin in its class, reflects strong, escalating market interest in Bombardier Business Aircraft products across both traditional and growth markets in Europe.
“This launch order marks the beginning of a new European era for the widebody Challenger aircraft, which already has a strong pedigree in the region,” observed Bob Horner, vice-president, sales, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “More than 75 Challenger jets are currently based in Europe, including several in VIP transport service, flying government officials in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and the Republic of Croatia.”
Challenger 605 mock-up highlights increased usable cabin volume For the first time in Europe, a full-scale cabin mock-up of the Challenger 605 jet will be open for viewing at the European Business Aircraft Show and Commercial Exhibition (EBACE) static display at Geneva’s International Airport.
The aircraft’s interior features a number of enhancements to maximize passenger comfort. The cabin is redesigned to provide more headroom and cabin volume, and includes LED lighting throughout. The windows have been enlarged and relocated, and a new window reveal design boosts the amount of natural light in the cabin. A new galley design offers passengers increased storage capacity and functionality as well as optimized, ergonomically enhanced working areas.
A digital, Ethernet-based cabin electronic system provides passengers with a new level of cabin control and flexibility. The system, which includes touch-screen controls in both the galley and at the VIP location, enables new optional features such as audio/video on demand and supports optional high-speed connectivity for web browsing and e-mail access.
Modern avionics system moves towards paperless cockpit The Challenger 605 flight deck is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite, which is fully configurable and offers pilots instant, intuitive access to critical flight information. The integrated avionics package includes four 10” by 12” inches (25.4 cm by 30.5 cm) vertically aligned next generation LCD screens, which increase the display area by 55 per cent over the current Challenger 604 flight deck.
The Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS), which comes as standard equipment, enables electronic navigation charts, airport diagrams and instrument departure and landing procedures. The system also allows the aircraft’s position to be overlaid on navigation charts, resulting in a significant improvement in situational awareness. The flight deck is also equipped with a co-pilot side display touch screen, which enables a second copy of electronic charts to allow for “paperless” operations.
Improved Payload Range
A combination of new materials and technologies together with the new lighter flight deck will reduce the overall weight of the Challenger 605 jet by 200 pounds (91 kg) from the current Challenger 604 aircraft, which translates to more payload flexibility. For example, the Challenger 605 will offer the same range as its predecessor, but with an extra passenger on board.
Following a flawless first flight on January 22, 2006, the Challenger 605 aircraft began a 200-hour flight test and certification program at Bombardier’s Flight Test Center in Wichita, Kansas. As of April 20, the aircraft had accumulated 100 flight hours during 30 flights. First flight of the second Challenger 605 jet is on schedule for early May 2006. Certification by Transport Canada is expected in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the aircraft is scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of 2007.
