Alan Peaford
Global Express, the Bombardier Aerospace ultra-long-range business aircraft, is the platform for the ASTOR programme and last night the Canadian company was celebrating the selection success.
Bombardier Aerospace president Michael Graff says the order for five aircraft for the programme will boost the aircraft's reputation among corporate owners.
"The RAF and the MoD do a thorough job of evaluation. That they chose Global Express says a lot about the aircraft's reliability," he says. The ASTOR Global Express scored points over competitors because of its European involvement.
Bombardier is the owner of Shorts Brothers and the Belfast subsidiary is expected to be providing the final assembly to the aircraft at its Northern Ireland plant.
Defence
The engines for the Global Express are made by BMW Rolls-Royce. It is believed that the UK MoD was keen on utilising as much UK or European involvement in the ASTOR programme as possible. Global Express can fly for more than 13h and cruise at 51,000ft (15,000m). It is able to take off from short runways (minimum takeoff distance is 5,620ft at sea level and has a minimum landing distance of 2,668ft at sea level with a minimum approach speed of 129kt (240km/h).
Global conforms to extended twin-engine operations standards (ETOPS) which requires that each system on the aircraft contain multiple redundancy and extremely high reliability.
The aircraft is fitted with four independent electrical systems, three independent hydraulic systems and three independent and integrated avionics computers onboard.
Source: Flight Daily News