Will Bring Composite Bizjet Program In-House

Grob Aerospace has "accepted" that Bombardier has cancelled the agreement with the company to continue the development of the Learjet 85 primary and secondary structure, according to a statement from the company.

Bombardier announced Thursday it has opted to build the upcoming composite jet on its own, "given the uncertainty surrounding Grob's insolvency" in the words of business jets program president Steve Ridolfi.

As ANN reported, Grob filed for insolvency on August 19. The Swiss planemaker cited delays in the development of its all-composite Grob spn very light jet as reason for the drastic move.

Bombardier said at the time it would stand by its decision to have Grob develop the all-composite airframe for its upcoming Learjet 85, and assemble the first three prototypes... a significant vote of confidence in Grob's ability to weather the insolvency process, that has apparently since waned.

"This decision by Bombardier Aerospace is an unfortunate result of uncertainty surrounding the current interim insolvency of Grob Aerospace GmbH in Germany," Grob said in a prepared statement. "Whilst this outcome is regrettable, it is a matter of fact that Bombardier needs to take what ever measures they deem necessary in order to protect the time line of their program."

Leo Knaapen, spokesman for Bombardier, told Bloomberg the decision to bring Learjet 85 development in-house would not affect first flight and deliveries... though he declined to say whether Thursday's news would result in a delay to the planemaker's development schedule.

"We're making sure we'll meet our customer commitments," Knaapen said, without elaboration.

Bombardier's Flexjet fraction ownership business is scheduled to launch the Learjet 85 in 2012, with customer deliveries starting in 2013.

Grob representatives said both parties have agreed to cooperate, and to jointly remove the Bombardier program from Grob's Tussenhausen-Mattsies facility.

FMI: www.bombardier.com, www.grob-aerospace.com