BOMBARDIER'S GLOBAL Express joint-definition team is winding down as detailed design of the long-range business jet gets under way.
Definition will be completed by the end of this month and wing developer Mitsubishi has reduced its Montreal-based design team from 60 to 15 people and is expected to cut metal on the first wing within weeks.
Located at Bombardier's Canadair division, the joint-definition team consisted of 410 people at the peak of activity, bringing together engineers from Canadair, Bombardier sister companies de Havilland and Shorts, and risk-sharing suppliers Abex NWL Aerospace, ABG-Semca, AlliedSignal Engines, BMW Rolls-Royce, Dowty Aerospace, E-Systems, Honeywell, Lucas Aerospace, Mitsubishi, Parker Bertea Aerospace and Sextant Avionique.
Bombardier had hoped to complete joint definition in November 1994, but admits that the task proved more demanding than expected, requiring more people. Detailed design has been under way since November and the company says that the programme remains on schedule for a first flight in 1996.
The company says that it has orders for more than 40 Global Expresses, ahead of predictions, with the first open delivery-slot available in the first quarter of 2000.
Source: Flight International
