CANADIAN certification of the Canadair Challenger 604 business jet is expected on 15 September, more than a month earlier than scheduled, and the first aircraft will be delivered at the end of September, Bombardier says. US certification is expected by the end of October, four weeks ahead of schedule, and four aircraft will be delivered by year-end.
Bombardier says that flight-tests show the 604's empty weight to be 90kg below estimates. Take-off distance is 60m (200ft), and landing distance 45m, below predictions, while fuel consumption is 1.5-2% better than projected. A range of 7,420km (4,010nm) has been demonstrated at ISA +10¡C, against a target of 7,400km in ISA conditions, the company says.
The 604 is an upgrade of the 6,630km-range Challenger 601-3R, with additional fuel capacity, up-rated engines, new avionics and system improvements. The General Electric CF34-3B turbofans can produce 7% more thrust, but are flat-rated instead to ISA +15%. The Rockwell-Collins Pro Line 4 avionics include a six-screen electronic flight-instrument system with engine-indication and crew-alerting system.
System changes have been made to reduce cost, improve reliability and simplify maintenance, and draw on experience gained with the Canadair Regional Jet. The airframe-inspection interval has been increased to 400h, from 300h, to align with annual utilisation, says Bombardier.
Orders are in hand for ten aircraft. Delivery of the first to Bombardier's Tucson, Arizona, completion centre has been brought forward to the end of September at the request of the customer - Bombardier chairman Laurent Beaudoin.
Source: Flight International
