Aircraft

Three European companies have been announced as key suppliers to Bombardier on the CSeries programme, less than two weeks after Germany's Lufthansa placed a firm order for 30 model CS100s.

Alenia Aeronautica will provide the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, "fully equipped with hydraulic, electrical and flight control systems, lights and antennas" for the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G-powered twinjet, says Bombardier.

Fokker Elmo will be responsible for the design and production of the entire wiring and interconnection system. Additionally, the firm will design and produce all flight test and instrumentation wiring required during the certification of the CSeries.

Goodrich Actuation Systems will be responsible for the design and production of the flap and slat actuation systems for the 110/130-seat aircraft.

"Adding three major suppliers to the CSeries aircraft team moves Bombardier's development of the programme forward in a significant way," says Bombardier Commercial Aircraft VP, programmes Benjamin Boehm.

Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned aviation industrial entity China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), has already agreed to supply the centre fuselage on the CSeries aircraft.

Bombardier's Belfast operation in the UK, meanwhile, is developing and producing the advanced composite wings for the CSeries, "and we are confident that European suppliers will play an important role on the programme, as is the case on other Bombardier programmes", says Bombardier.

Alenia Aeronautica, Fokker Elmo and Goodrich Actuation Systems join a growing list of publicized suppliers on the CSeries programme.

Previously announced suppliers include interiors specialist C&D Zodiac; Rockwell Collins for supply of the 110/130-seat airliner's avionics; Parker Hannifin Corp for design and production of the fully integrated fuel and hydraulics systems; and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS for the design and production of the aircraft's air management system.

The CSeries is expected to enter into service in the latter half of 2013. Lufthansa's Swiss unit will begin accepting deliveries of 115-seat configured CS100s in 2014.