Bombardier will probably start building a new CSeries aircraft facility to bring together international manufacturers in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. as early as next month.Ben Boehm, Bombardier program director for the new aircraft said the first building, which should be completed by the end of 2010, will not be an assembly site, but rather a facility where the Montreal manufacturer will house a ‘virtual’ CSeries for testing.
Although the mock CSeries will have a full cockpit and fuselage, it won’t have proper wings and is not intended ever to fly. It is intended for testing and then more testing.
The manufacturer will begin testing its new aluminium-lithium alloy main fuselage this week after Shenyang Aircraft, a unit of China Aviation Industry, delivers the first test to its St. Laurent, Quebec, site.
Bombardier is taking great pains to avoid the sort of costly delays experienced by both Boeing and Airbus in recent years with their new 787 and A380 programs.
Part of that effort includes keeping a close eye on its global supply chain. Ben Boehm said he was heartened by Shenyang not only delivering the first test barrel with a high quality of workmanship, but two weeks ahead of schedule.
Canada.com said the Bombadier CSeries is still on track for its first flight by the end of 2012 with entry into service at the end of 2013.
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