First Government Operator To Select New Super-Large Jet

Bombardier Aerospace says the FAA has awarded a firm fixed price contract for a new Bombardier Global 5000 business jet.

Bombardier will deliver the Global 5000 to the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J., by Sept. 30, 2005. The aircraft will be operated as an airborne research and development laboratory equipped to accommodate various special missions instrumentation. Its unique interior will be designed and installed by Midcoast Aviation in St. Louis (MO) prior to final delivery.

This special mission Global 5000 will join a fleet of 11 Bombardier Challenger 604, Bombardier Challenger 601 and Bombardier Learjet 60 business jets currently deployed by the FAA.

The FAA contract further reaffirms the growing utilization of Bombardier business jets as special missions aircraft. "The FAA is recognized as a leader in operating multi-mission aircraft and we couldn't be more pleased," observed Peter Edwards, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft.

The design features of the Bombardier Global 5000 make it ideal for this type of mission. It has independent power sources capable of generating the necessary electricity needed for electronic monitoring equipment, and features a total usable cabin volume of 1,882 cubic feet (53.29 cu. m), from the start of the forward lavatory to the end of the pressurized compartment, to accommodate special research equipment.

The Bombardier Global 5000 shares most of the systems with its parent, the pioneering Bombardier Global Express, already in service with two other government agencies. The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) currently operates two Global Express aircraft for flight inspection and airways calibration within Japan, while the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) will operate five Global Express aircraft in the ASTOR Air to Ground Surveillance program.

FMI: www.bombardier.com