Bombardier has launched a long-expected avionics, interior and propulsion upgrade for the large cabin Challenger 605, but has no plans to announce a similar refresh to the Global 5000 and 6000 despite recently unveiled competitive threats from Dassault and Gulfstream.
The public launch of the Gulfstream 500 and 600 last week and the Dassault Falcon 5X and 8X in the past year raised speculation that Bombardier would reply with a similar product announcement at NBAA.
But Bombardier director of product strategy and market development Brad Nolen says the company is focused in the near-term on bringing to market the Challenger 650, which occupies a segment where Dassault has recently introduced the Falcon 2000LXS.
Although Bombardier stays aware of moves by competitors, Nolen says, the timing of the Challenger 650 was really driven by the positive customer response to the Challenger 350 in the super mid-size segment.
The Challenger 650 updates the avionics suite with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced system. As incorporated into Bombardier’s Vision flightdeck architecture, the system features a design style normally associated with luxury cars than business jets. It also adds new functionality with a new multiscan radar and a synthetic vision system, which allows the aircraft to land in 100ft minimum Category 1 conditions, Nolen says.
Bombardier also contracted GE Aviation to supply more take-off power for the CF34-3B engines. The “MTO” update raises take-off thrust to 9,220lb, a 5% improvement over the baseline version. It means the aircraft can carry a proportionately larger payload on take-off from short runways, Nolen says.
As with the Challenger 350, the most significant improvement contained in the larger jet is a major interior redesign in the passenger cabin.
Entertainment will be improved with the addition of a 24in (61cm) bulkhead-mounted monitor as standard equipment, accompanied by the Lufthansa Technik Nice high-definition system, a sidewall-length speaker system and access to a subscription-based AVOD library of Hollywood movie releases. Bombardier also will install new, wider seats with full-length headrests. The galley is updated with a 70% larger oven, which is sized to accommodate sufficient meals for a maximum passenger count of 12.
The upgrades increase the list price over the Challenger 605 by $500,000 to $32.35 million. The new avionics suite is already in flight test, with the engines and cabins arriving later. First delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2015.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
