Bombardier's flight test programme for the Global 5500 and Global 6500 is progressing on schedule, with 70 per cent of flight testing complete. Bombardier Business Aircraft president David Coleal says: “The response to the Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft has been overwhelmingly positive since their unveiling at EBACE. The programme is proceeding to schedule and these exceptional new long-range business jets are on track to enter service in 2019.”

Aerodynamic validation of the aircraft's newly optimised wing is now complete, and the Rolls-Royce Pearl engine is delivering unmatched total performance.

Bombardier flight test centre and flight operations vice president Tom Bisges adds: “The flight test team feels privileged to execute another programme for such superior aircraft. The Global 5500 and 6500 flight test programme is proceeding smoothly, and we find that our extensive experience testing the Global 7500 aircraft, as well as the quality of these newest aircraft, allow us to continue to execute on schedule.”

Interior completions of the first customer aircraft are set to begin this year, and both aircraft will enter service with new cabins, featuring the patented Nuage seat engineered for maximum comfort on long flights, and debuting the industry-first Nuage chaise in the conference suite. Ultra-fast connectivity combined with the industry's first 4K, ultra high resolution system will maximise productivity and comfort on short or long flights, and customers will have safe access to baggage at all times.

Both aircraft employ Bombardier's advanced Vision flight deck, with the first true combined vision system in business aviation that seamlessly merges enhanced and synthetic images in a single view. Their ranges are 5,700 and 6,600 nautical miles, respectively, with top speeds of Mach 0.90. The Global 5500 can connect New York to Cairo, and Miami to Moscow; the Global 6500 can connect New York to Beijing, and Miami to Istanbul.

Bombardier says that the aircraft have highly favourable operating costs versus smaller competing aircraft with less range, and also deliver a range increase of up to 1,300 nm when operating out of hot-weather and high altitude conditions, thanks to increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency.