C Series: What to expect in the months to come

Although the  CS100 has received its certification from, Transport Canada and its documentation is enough for the FAA and the EASA there are still some tests to be done, The first block of 300 hours of functionality  and reliability testing is coming to its end and the second block of 300 hours should probably included several European cities.

Bombardier has begun to withdraw material from FTV1 and 4; these two aircraft will be upgraded and will receive a complete interior with the aim of eventually being delivered to clients. On the other hand FTV5 will be used to obtain the ETOPS-120 certification which allows two-engine aircraft to cross the North Atlantic.  FTV2 and 3 should meanwhile work towards other secondary certifications such as for approaches with  steeper slope such as that of London City airport. The second CS300 should rejoin FTV7 at the end of January so that the two machines can perform the test flights necessary for the certification of the CS300.

In December I asked the people at Bombardier if aircraft serial number 50007 would be the first arcraft delivered to SWISS. The only response I received was that the company had no intention of giving out any information regarding aircraft that will be delivered in 2016 and to which clients. I also remarked that the 50007 is still far from ready to be delivered. A little birdie told me that the transformation of FTV1 and 4 into airliners will be completed well in time for the first delivery. That would allow Bombardier to give SWISS two aircraft whose systems already have several flying hours and have been approved.  What I mean to say is that this is only a mere theory on my part based on my observations.

All that remain is for me to talk about the question that’s on everybody’s lips: when will the next sale be and to which company? Honestly I am less and less certain about it and I would be suspicious of anyone apart from the board at Bombardier that claims to have an answer to this question. It’s well known that Bombardier was implicated in the acquisition campaigns of United, Air Canada and JetBlue. On the other hand information has started to emerge regarding a possible lower price for the C Series; if this is the case then the C Series will no doubt reap its fair share of orders. After a few weeks the names Delta Airlines and Turkish Airlines have also emerged on the list of rumoured customers. In my opinion there is still a long way to go before an agreement is sign and I am going to wait before adding more fuel to the rumour mill.  I am however very surprised to see that there are still no rumours about an order coming from British Airways. Of all European carriers it is British Airways that seems the most logical client to purchase the C Series.  But as 2016 is the year of Farnborough you never know.

What is certain is that if Bombardier does not succeed in obtaining a large number of orders in 2016, senior management will find that the road ahead is a long one.