Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
Bombardier hopes to begin deliveries of the Learjet 45 business jet before the end of January. US certification was received in September 1997, nine months later than originally planned, but deliveries were delayed by completion of post-certification work, says John Holding, executive vice-president for engineering and product development.
"Several" Learjet 45s will be ready for delivery by the end of January, Holding says. The delay means that the programme will have little impact on aircraft-delivery totals for Bombardier's 1997 financial year, which ends on 31 January. The Canadian company plans to deliver 48 Learjet 45s in its 1998 financial year, against an order backlog for over 140 aircraft. The company had planned to deliver the first aircraft in November and at least 12 were due to have been dispatched to customers by this month.
Aircraft will be delivered with the thrust reversers and auxiliary power-unit installed, but disabled, until certification work is completed in "May to June", says Holding, when service bulletins will be released allowing them to be activated. Bombardier is "on track" to receive European Joint Aviation Authorities certification before delivery of the first Learjet 45 - the twelfth aircraft - to a European customer, he says.
The first 20 aircraft are in a modification line at Wichita, Kansas, being brought up to certification standard. Airframes for aircraft beyond that are being held at Shorts in Northern Ireland, where the modifications are being incorporated before the sections are shipped to Learjet for final assembly, Holding says.
Source: Flight International
