Challenger Program Seen as 'Most Successful'

In one of the great milestones in corporate aviation, Bombardier rolled the 500th Challenger off its Dorval production line this past summer, making it one of the most successful business tools of all time.

"The Challenger has changed the face of business aviation, and helped transform Bombardier into one of the world's leading aviation companies," said Robert Gillespie, president of Bombardier's Business Aircraft group. "Since deliveries began in January 1996, the 604 has become the best-selling aircraft in the history of the Challenger program, as well as in the large jet category."

And as the basis for the pioneering 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jet, the Challenger has also changed the face of commercial aviation. About 400 CRJs have already been delivered.

To keep all the Challengers flying, the company is expanding its network of independently managed authorized service facilities. Bombardier recently signed agreements with Skyservice of Toronto, Ontario, to provide complete maintenance and support for the Challenger.

In Europe, Bombardier has maintenance agreements with four facilities for Challenger maintenance.

At the same time, the company has won approval for its Tucson, AZ, facility to function as a Designated Alteration Station to issue FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificates for interior completions on the Challenger 604.

And, in a plan to offer operators predictable maintenance costs, Bombardier has extended its Dependability Plus program to the 604. Subscribers pay a set hourly rate for engine and airframe maintenance, and are guaranteed a minimum trade-in value for their aircraft if they trade back for another new Bombardier aircraft of equal or greater value within five years.

The company is also expanding its training capability. Specifically, it has enhanced Challenger 604 training capabilities at its Montreal training center with the introduction of a Flight Dynamics heads-up guidance system (HGS) and Safe Flight auto-throttle capabilities on its Challenger 604 simulator. The HGS is a Cat II derivative of the system presently installed on the CRJ, and can be retrofitted to in-service aircraft at any of the eight Bombardier Aviation Services facilities.

With these enhancements, Bombardier expects to train more than 400 Challenger 604 pilots for either initial or recurrent training this year.

On the special missions front, the Challenger's widebody cabin has proved popular with international governments over the past year. In one three-month period this summer, Bombardier sold Challenger 604s to Australia and Denmark.

The Aussie deal called for three 604s to go to the Australian government for transport of senior government officials. Qantas Defence Services will provide aircraft service, maintenance and crew as prime contractor. "This latest fleet sale to a government operator underlines the suitability of the Challenger in both its usual corporate transport role and as a special mission aircraft," said Gillespie.

Just prior to that sale, the company sold two 604s to the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF). They will be used for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and VIP transport. The RDAF already operated one Challenger 604, which was delivered last November.

Challenger aircraft are currently in multirole service with government agencies that include Transport Canada, the Canadian Department of National Defence, U.S. FAA and the Transport Agency for the Republic of South Korea.

A total of 506 Challengers have been delivered to date. These include about 163 Challenger 604s, the current production model which was certified in late 1995. The airplane has captured about one-third of the market for large business aircraft, according to Bombardier. The fleet has accumulated 1.75 million flight hours, with a dispatch reliability of 99.6%.

By Barry Rosenberg