Bombardier’s CSeries has been performing better than expected after entry into service with the CS100 at Swiss nearly a year ago and the CS300 at AirBaltic. Both carriers report that the fuel burn for the aircraft is lower than anticipated. With consistent results across a larger fleet, Bombardier is now in the process of analyzing data to determine whether it should change its specifications.
Fred Cromer, Bombardier’s President for commercial aircraft, is optimistic as operators continue to provide positive feedback on aircraft performance. “The interest level in the airplane continues to grow. The reputation of the aircraft, and its entry into service, has started to become known throughout the industry.”
Bombardier expects to deliver 30-35 CSeries aircraft in 2017, with production growing to 10 per month by 2020. While delivery issues with the PW1500G engines reduced planned deliveries last year, the company believes it will meet its 2017 delivery guidance. To date, Bombardier delivered 7 CSeries jets in 2016 and additional 7 so fare in 2017. Cromer was positive about the ramp-up in the second half of the year, indicating that the ramp up plan was manageable, including Pratt & Whitney.
With lower than expected fuel burn, the PW1500G is delivering on its promises right out of the box. While issues have occurred with combustor liners on both the CSeries and A320neo versions, a replacement combustor liner will be provided to customers to update the expected life of that component. Despite these issues, there have been minimal incidents with the GTF for CSeries, and “entry into service experience for Swiss and AirBaltic has been outstanding.”
