CSeries concerns remain despite simultaneous test flights

MONTREAL—Bombardier’s two CSeries test aircraft made their first simultaneous flights this week, but concerns about the slow pace of testing has some industry observers anticipating a delay in the CS100 airplane’s entry into service.

Cameron Doerksen of National Bank Financial says he’s pushed back his forecast for first deliveries by three months to the second quarter of 2015.

One-third of the way into the planned 12-month test flight program, the CSeries has had about 20 flights and less than 50 total flight hours since the maiden flight Sept. 16.

That’s just two per cent of the 2,400 hours of actual flying expected from five CS100 test aircraft.

There will also be two larger CS300 test planes.

“The testing will undoubtedly accelerate and Bombardier is doing more ground-based testing than other new aircraft programs, but based on the very slow pace so far, even the first quarter of 2015, which we believe is the consensus expectation, is looking optimistic,” Doerksen wrote in a report.

However, Bombardier spokesperson Marc Duchesne said “the goal for first deliveries remains the fall of 2014.”

The second CSeries test aircraft took to the skies Jan. 3 and will test various systems, including electrical, hydraulic and pressurization systems.

Walter Spracklin of RBC Capital Markets expects the next test plane will fly by February.

“This is an important time frame as FTV3 is set to test the full suite of avionics and will be a critical component as to how the development of the CS100 and entry-into-service (EIS) is tracking,” he wrote in a recent report.

Analyst David Tyerman of Canaccord Genuity said he’s not too worried if first deliveries face a short-term delay.

“I would be bothered if it was delayed by a year or … if the budget went up a lot. That would be much more important because it would be a greater draw on their cash and also it would make the economics of the program worse,” he said in an interview.

Tyerman said expectations about Bombardier have taken a hit since the company reported weak third-quarter results.

Most analysts expect the aircraft and railway manufacturer won’t meet last year’s eight per cent margin target for each of its divisions.

The company will disclose its earnings results Feb. 13 but plans to disclose its aircraft deliveries in the next couple of weeks.

Bombardier is expected to earn 10 cents per share in adjusted profits on $5.1-billion of revenues in the fourth quarter and 37 cents per share on $17.9-billion of revenues for the full year.

“The expectations have been brought down to a fairly low level, not that I think that the company set out to do that but that’s where they are,” he said.

Doerksen said it’s unlikely that Bombardier will hit its full-year 2013 target to deliver 190 business jets and 55 commercial aircraft.

The company would need to deliver 70 business jets and 21 commercial aircraft in the fourth quarter.

The analyst expects that less than 50 business aircraft were shipped in the quarter.

Although there are no clear signs of recovery in the small business jet market, demand for higher-priced, larger planes where Bombardier generates its best margins remains solid.

At year-end, it announced three orders for 30 Challenger and 28 Global business jets worth US$2.7-billion at list prices.

The regional aircraft business is showing some life with recent new orders for 30 CRJ900s from American Airlines and a letter of intent for 30 Q400s from a new Chinese airline.

“We do not believe Bombardier is making money on regional aircraft currently, but higher deliveries should at least reduce the margin drag,” Doerksen said, adding that he remains optimistic about Bombardier’s longer-term prospects despite “caution in the near term.”

Doerksen isn’t concerned about Bombardier’s liquidity provided there isn’t a long-term delay in the CSeries.

The company ended the third quarter with $2.6-billion in cash and $4-billion including credit facilities.

The fourth-quarter is always a strong period for cash generation and it received $120-million from the sale of its Flexjet business.

The aerospace division should also be helped by the lower Canadian dollar.