range, connecting Singapore to Tucson, AZ with fuel to spare. The Global 7500 jet continued to raise the bar later in March, setting speed records between Los Angeles and New York, and New York and London. Not only does the Global 7500 aircraft offer luxury living in the sky, it boasts an unmatched advertised range of 7,700 nautical miles, a full 300 nautical miles further than initial commitments. The jet also offers an unprecedented smooth ride, inherent to the Bombardier design DNA, its wings precision- engineered with leading-edge flaps and slats offering superior wing flexibility to float through turbulence. The entry-into-service of the industry defining Global 7500 aircraft is creating an entirely new class of busi- ness jets, spurring a transformed Bombardier Business Aircraft and a renewed industry at large, all while invigorating the industry’s love of flight. ABJ Are defense/security applications considered a grow- ing market for your products? If yes, which aircraft seems to be the main focus for special missions? DC We see enormous potential for what we refer to as “special mission” applications for our business aircraft platforms, which range from surveillance and recon- naissance to medical evacuations or VIP transport. Bombardier Specialized Aircraft develops and delivers a range of capabilities to operators around the world, with more than 1,000 specialized aircraft in service. Our diverse fleet, which includes the Learjet, Challenger, and Global business aircraft platforms, represents the ideal solution for government missions. Solutions range from turnkey packages comprising the complete design, building, testing, and certification activity, through to specialist engineering support and techni- cal oversight of customer-specific projects. Bombardier currently has special mission aircraft in service with governments and agencies around the world, and we are absolutely looking to grow our presence in this space. Our wide portfolio of aircraft can answer the needs of many missions. For example, in 2018 we delivered three brand-new Challenger 650 aircraft in medevac configuration to Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, which repatriates and rescues Swiss citizens around the world. The Challenger is an excellent Aviation Business Journal | Spring 2019 choice for medevac functions with its widest-in-class cabins, reliability, and smooth ride to provide the most comfort to patients. Then there’s our Global aircraft, which are especially attractive for surveillance and reconnaissance, with their long range and abundance of electrical power for the ultimate reliability, for example on long missions. For us, our specialized aircraft business, just like our other products and services, is all about the customer: we have the experience, the OEM expertise, and the relationships to be able to offer the best solution no matter the mission. The fact that all our platforms have a proud history of special-mission use demonstrates the versatility of our portfolio and the reliability of our aircraft. And the fact that we are constantly adding to our portfolio and upgrading our platforms means we are able to offer more capabilities all the time. ABJ In recent years, we have seen a lot of supply chain issues? What impact, if any, have they had on BBA? DC Bombardier has good relationships with its suppliers, who are instrumental in helping us deliver market- leading aircraft. Our suppliers add real value to our air- craft solutions and our customer services. Together, we share a commitment to excellence, to innovation, and a focus on surpassing our customers’ expectations. ABJ What are some of the advantages you see NATA mem- bership providing that other organizations you support may not? DC Bombardier Business Aircraft became a NATA member in 2016. The NATA membership profile is unique as it includes key industry stakeholders in segments not strongly represented by other aircraft manufacturer and operator associations. It encompasses the broader busi- ness aviation spectrum including fuel providers, FBOs, MRO providers, and large fleet operators. It is essential for Bombardier to interact, be engaged with, and have a voice among our partners across all facets of aviation. *Under certain operating conditions. Continued on page 32 31
