Suncor Energy Will Operate CRJ200-Derived Transport

Bombardier announced this week the first Challenger 890 corporate shuttle has entered service with Calgary based Suncor Energy Inc., a North American developer of oil sands. The aircraft will join Suncor’s Challenger 850 corporate shuttle, in operation since March 2006.

Based in Alberta with more than 6,500 employees, Suncor Energy currently operates a shuttle service for its personnel between their Calgary headquarters and Fort McMurray, Alberta. The new Challenger 890 will shuttle workers from across Canada to the Fort McMurray oil sands.

"With the most comprehensive family of aircraft in the industry, Bombardier can offer customers the right solutions for a vast array of business needs, and the corporate shuttle was designed with companies like Suncor in mind," said Bob Horner, vice-president, sales Bombardier Business Aircraft. "With their proven track record of superior dispatch reliability and performance, Challenger corporate shuttle aircraft are an economical and flexible way to transport employees to remote locations and keep businesses running smoothly."

Bombardier says the Challenger 890 corporate shuttle offers low direct operating costs, outstanding dispatch reliability and ease of maintenance -- traits shared by the CRJ200 regional airliner from which it is derived. The aircraft is part of the Bombardier Challenger corporate shuttle family, which also includes the Challenger 850 and Challenger 870 aircraft.

Each Challenger corporate shuttle model offers a choice of three floorplan configurations, and multiple galley and lavatory options to suit a wide range of needs. All models feature stand-up cabins, a flat floor and a minimum 31-inch-pitch between seats.

The Challenger 890 aircraft delivers a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and can fly up to 2,038 nautical miles with 52 passengers and up to 1,730 nautical miles (3,204 km) with a full 90-passenger load under certain operating conditions. The Challenger 850 and Challenger 870 shuttles, derivatives of the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 and 70-seat CRJ700 respectively, can fly at Mach 0.80 and Mach 0.82 respectively.

FMI: www.bombardier.com, www.suncor.com