Bombardier is aiming to select an engine manufacturer for its proposed CSeries airliner by the end of the year.
The Canadian aerospace firm unveiled more details of the project yesterday at the show and took the wraps off a scale model of the twin-engined aircraft.
Bombardier wants the CSeries - the name stands for Competitive, Continental and Connector - to be in customer service no later than 2010, says Gary Scott, president, New Commercial Aircraft (NCA) Program.
John Holding, executive vice-president NCA, says Bombardier requires an engine to be certificated by 2008 if it is to meet this schedule.
It is discussing the project with GE, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce for an engine in the 21,000-23,000lb (93-102kN) thrust range.
Although manufacturers prefer to have a single engine choice for an aircraft, the decision of whether to offer one or two powerplants will depend on what airlines want, says Scott. "If they want two we will do it," he adds.
Bombardier Aerospace president Pierre Beaudoin would not be drawn on the number of launch orders, or number of launch customers, the manufacturer needs to obtain the green light from the board to officially offer the aircraft for sale.
Bombardier has already held independent meetings with carriers and conducted its first airline council meeting in Montreal to begin the consultation process, he says. These talks have been with mainline and low-cost carriers mostly in North America and Europe, with a few in Asia.
Source: Flight Daily News
