All main systems now up and running on the ground test aircraft
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that the company is now conducting virtual flights with “Aircraft 0”* – the on-the-ground Integrated Systems Test and Certification Rig (ISTCR) for the CSeries aircraft. The avionics, electrical, flight control, fly-by-wire, hydraulic, landing gear and wiring systems are now all commissioned, and systems integration and communication have been successfully demonstrated. The development of the CSeries aircraft will now enter the intense ground testing phase that will build the necessary maturity for all systems and drive towards the flight test program.
“Excitement in the development of our CSeries airliner builds weekly as the aircraft becomes more and more real,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President and General Manager, CSeries, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The commissioning of all the systems on ‘Aircraft 0’ was an important milestone that has allowed us to initiate the integrated ground test phase, and to conduct virtual flights. This approach, which involves testing a complete aircraft with all main systems and software fully configured at production standard, is new for our industry. It will allow us to extensively test systems design in order to mitigate risk and provide the necessary reliability prior to the first flight. The results thus far have been to our satisfaction and some have even exceeded our expectations.”
The ISTCR is one of the multiple rigs housed at the company’s Complete Integrated Aircraft System Test Area (CIASTA) facility in Mirabel, Québec, 40 km north of Montréal. The successful commissioning of all the systems on “Aircraft 0” was supported by several key CSeries aircraft partners and suppliers, including CAE, Goodrich Actuation Systems, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Liebherr-Aerospace, Parker Hannifin, Pratt & Whitney, Rockwell Collins and Fokker Elmo along with other structural and system suppliers that delivered all the required components. Representatives from these organizations are co-located in Mirabel to work with Bombardier on system testing and integration processes.
In addition to the ISTCR, other rigs being used in the ground test phase are: the Engineering Flight Simulator (ESIM) being built by CAE and now in an advanced stage; the avionics Systems Integration Test Stand (SITS) and the Flight Controls Integration Lab (FCIL), which are already commissioned at Rockwell Collins’ and Parker Hannifin’s facilities respectively; and the Interior and Environmental Control Systems (ECS) rig which is also being completed at Mirabel.
“‘Aircraft 0’ is operating in near-real conditions since it combines production-level systems and structural components, an aerodynamic loading system and a high-fidelity flight model. Our suppliers are with us every step of the way and we continue on our drive towards the CSeries aircraft’s entry-into-service in 2013,” added Mr. Dewar.
About CSeries aircraft
Designed for the growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent new CSeries aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements in 2013 and beyond. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, the CSeries aircraft family will offer a 15** per cent cash operating cost advantage and a 20** per cent fuel burn advantage. The CSeries aircraft’s clean-sheet design will permit the aircraft to achieve greatly reduced noise and emissions, as well as superior operational flexibility, exceptional airfield performance and a range of 2,950 nm (5,463 km)**. The CSeries aircraft will be up to 12,000 lbs (5,443 kg)** lighter than other aircraft in the same seat category and will provide passengers with a best-in-class, widebody cabin environment in a single-aisle aircraft.
Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 352 CSeries aircraft. The order book includes firm orders for 138 CSeries airliners from Braathens Aviation (five CS100 and five CS300 aircraft), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (30 CS100 aircraft), Korean Air (10 CS300 aircraft), Lease Corporation International Group (17 CS300 and three CS100 aircraft), PrivatAir (five CS100 aircraft), Republic Airways (40 CS300 aircraft), an unidentified major network carrier (10 CS100 aircraft), an unidentified European customer (10 CS100 aircraft) and a well-established, unidentified airline (three CS100 aircraft). The CSeries aircraft program has also booked options for 124 aircraft and purchase rights for 10 aircraft from these customers. In addition, the CSeries aircraft program has also achieved a conditional order placed by an unidentified customer for five CS100 and 10 CS300 airliners, as well as three letters of intent: for up to 30 CSeries aircraft from Ilyushin Finance Co; for up to 15 CS300 aircraft from Atlasjet; and for up to 20 CS300 aircraft from airBaltic.
The 13 customers that have joined the CSeries aircraft program – nine with firm orders – include major network carriers, national carriers, premium airlines serving city centre airports, a low-cost airline, leasing companies and a full service provider to airline partners.
About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.
Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
Notes to Editors
- Photo 1: A general view of the ISTCR (Integrated Systems Test and Certification Rig) in Mirabel.
- Photo 2: Rob Dewar, Vice President and General Manager, CSeries, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, and the ISTCR team celebrating the commissioning.
- Photo 3: CS100 aircraft.
- A video is available at http://youtu.be/Z-2yqKDU2AU .
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* “Aircraft 0” is pronounced “Aircraft Zero.”
** The CSeries aircraft is in the development phase. All data and specifications are estimates, subject to changes in family strategy, branding, capacity and performance during the development, manufacture and certification process. All performance references have been estimated based on a 500-nm North American environment and comparisons are to in-production aircraft.
Bombardier, CS100, CS300, CSeries and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
For Information
Marc Duchesne
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft
+1 416 375 3030