Bombardier begins ramping up CSeries program to full production
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Company says first aircraft scheduled to take to skies in Q2, as Mirabel assembly "stacked" with aircraft
Bombardier confirmed its first CS100 will be ready for second-quarter delivery. PHOTO Bombardier
MONTREAL—With the first aircraft of its ambitious CSeries scheduled to enter service in the second-quarter of this year, Bombardier Inc. has announced the company has begun ramping up the program to full production.
“It’s truly a spectacular sight to see the C Series final assembly line fully stacked with production aircraft in various stages of assembly,” Fred Cromer, president of the company’s Commercial Aircraft division, said.
Production teams have already rolled out the first structurally-complete aircraft, which will take to the skies under the SWISS airline banner later this year. Meanwhile, the first of the company’s pilots have arrived at Mirabel to start their training in preparation for the aircraft’s launch. Bombardier said the crews will undergo “intensive training” in preparation for the aircraft’s route-proving flights to Europe slated to take place in the coming weeks.
Despite the progress on the long-delayed project, a cloud continues to hang over the controversial program.
Bombardier’s CSeries sales drought extends more than a year, and though it has booked 243 firm orders for its new commercial jet, the company and its investors have long-hoped to secure more orders.
As the delivery date approaches, all eyes will be on the airline’s performance.
