The 100-149 seat CSeries family of commercial aircraft, comprising of two models, the baseline C110 110-seater and the 130-seat C130 stretch, puts Bombardier in direct competition with Airbus and Boeing for the first time in the 150 seat single-aisle, narrowbody airliner market.

Although Bombardier originally offered the CSeries in March 2005, the airframer struggled to find a suitable powerplant and decided to shelve the programme in 2006. However, it was revived and updated in 2007, and in 2008, Bombardier launched its CSeries programme at the Farnborough Air Show on the back of a sole “letter of interest” from Lufthansa for up to 60 aircraft. In March 2009, Lufthansa confirmed its order for 30 aircraft, to be used by its Swiss International Air Lines subsidiary

The $2.6 billion funding needed to develop the CSeries will come in roughly equal shares from Bombardier, principal suppliers and the Canadian and UK governments, with Ottawa providing loans worth $350 million, $118 million will come from Quebec and £155 million ($310 million) from the UK and Northern Ireland.

With an airframe made of 70% advanced materials (46% composite, 24% Aluminium Lithium alloy), the CSeries promises a 15% saving in operating costs thanks to the weight saved using these materials when compared to traditional construction.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G Geared Turbofan engines, capable of up to 23,000lb thrust (103.6kN) each, the CSeries has a range of up to 2,950nm (5,457km) and offers savings of 20% in fuel reduction as well as producing 20% less CO² and 50% less NO_x.

First flight is scheduled for 2012 with service entry following in 2013.

Production

Final assembly of the CSeries will be undertaken in Bombardier’s Mirabel plant near Montreal. The wings will be developed and manufactured by Bombardier’s Belfast, UK, plant, while the aft-fuselage and cockpit sections will be produced by Bombardier’s Saint Laurent facility.

Around two-thirds of CSeries production work is being farmed out to risk-sharing partners and suppliers. Shenyang Aircraft, part of China Aviation Industry I, is taking responsibility for the centre fuselage, centre wing box and doors, while C&D Zodiac will supply the cabin, Rockwell Collins the avionics, Parker Hannifin the fuel and hydraulics systems and Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse the air management system.