Bombardier's Global 7000 and 8000 aircraft programme is making progress. The engines have been mounted on the first Global 7000 aircraft, which comprises all major structural components including the rear, centre and forward fuselage sections, wing, landing gears and vertical and horizontal tail stabilisers.

“We are very excited by the significant progress being made on the Global 7000 flight test vehicles,” says Bombardier Business Aircraft president David Coleal. “Our vision of building a game-changing aircraft is emerging as the first two state-of-the-art business jets take shape.”

A second flight test aircraft is in final assembly with major structural components joined such as the rear, centre and forward fuselage sections and cockpit. Both the integrated systems test and certification rig and the Global 7000 complete airframe static test rig have been commissioned and safety of flight testing is under way, while the avionics system integrated test stand rig has been installed at Bombardier's Toronto site.

Bombardier has appointed Michel Ouellette as senior vp of the Global 7000 and 8000 programme. Ouellette will oversee each phase to ensure that the aircraft are successfully brought to market.