Canada’s aviation regulator has certificated Bombardier’s Global 8000 business jet, a milestone coming some three years after the Montreal manufacturer launched development of what is the longest-range and fastest aircraft in its inventory.
Transport Canada approved the jet on 5 November, and Bombardier expects the type will enter service before year-end.
“Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency certification will follow, aligned with delivery requirements,” Bombardier says. “This accomplishment marks the latest in a series of monumental achievements for Bombardier’s Global 8000 business jet, which went supersonic in testing [and] completed its inaugural first production flight in May.”
The 19-passenger Global 8000 has 8,000nm (14,816km) of range, maximum approved speed of Mach 0.95, maximum cruise altitude of 51,000ft and, when flying at 41,000ft, cabin pressure altitude equivalent to 2,691ft, which Bombardier calls the lowest in the industry.
The company had previously intended to certificate the jet to M0.94 but in October revealed it had upped the figure to M0.95.
The Global 8000 is a long time coming.
Bombardier in 2010 revealed development of two aircraft: the 7,300nm-range Global 7000 and the Global 8000, which at the time was to have 7,900nm of range and be 2.6m (8.5ft) shorter than the 7000.
But Bombardier eventually upped the 7000’s range to 7,500nm, and in doing so changed its name to Global 7500. Bombardier later increased the 7500’s range again, to 7,700nm. That model entered service in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Global 8000 had languished on the drawing board, its business case uncertain owing to having range only slightly more range than the 7500.
Bombardier finally pulled the trigger on the 8000’s development in 2022, but not for the aircraft initially envisioned.
Instead of being shorter than the 7500, the 8000 and 7500 share the same fuselage, making the 8000 a more-capable version of its sister.
Bombardier intends to phase out 7500 production entirely, shifting only to producing 8000s in 2026. It assembles the aircraft in a facility at Toronto Pearson International airport.
Both jets are powered by 19,000lb (84.5kN)-thrust GE Aerospace Passport turbofans.
