Celebrations marked the recent
arrival of a new Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft to the FAA's
William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J., where
FAA representatives welcomed the aircraft into their research and
development program.
The arrival of the special mission Bombardier Global 5000 jet
brings to 11 the number of Bombardier aircraft in the FAA fleet,
which already includes Challenger 604, Challenger 601 and Learjet
60 business jets. The FAA's new Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft,
one of the most advanced and capable civil aircraft being built
today, will serve as an airborne research and development
laboratory. Midcoast Aviation in St. Louis, Mo., designed and
installed a unique interior to accommodate a wide range of future
special mission work stations.
The exceptional payload capacity and endurance of the Bombardier
Global 5000 were two key factors in the FAA's decision process. In
addition, the aircraft's cockpit systems and wing design are highly
compatible with the wide range of leading-edge systems and
technology that the agency routinely develop and test.
"The FAA now flies models from all three Bombardier business jet
families, which clearly reflects its confidence in the superior
quality and performance of our aircraft," said Derek Gilmour,
vice-president, government and special mission aircraft sales,
Bombardier Aerospace.
With its sizeable fleet, the FAA is a leader in operating highly
specialized multi-mission aircraft resulting in safer commercial
air travel. Delivery of the new Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft to
the FAA demonstrates the strength of the Global platform for
special mission needs for government agencies worldwide. The Japan
Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) currently operates two Global Express
aircraft for flight inspection and airways calibration within
Japan, while the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) will
operate five modified Global Express aircraft in its Airborne
Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) program.
Two features of the Bombardier Global 5000 jet make it
particularly well suited to missions such as navigation systems
testing and certification: eight independent power sources capable
of providing the electricity needed for electronic monitoring
equipment; a total usable volume of 1,882 cubic feet (53.29 cu. m)
and unrestricted access from the start of the forward lavatory to
the end of the pressurized compartment can accommodate an array of
special research equipment.
Launched in February 2002, the Bombardier Global 5000 is a
high-speed intercontinental business jet capable of flying non-stop
from continental Europe to central North America at Mach 0.85 with
eight passengers and three crew. To date, Bombardier has
manufactured over 170 Global aircraft. The company delivered its
150th Global aircraft into service, a Bombardier Global 5000, in
August 2005.