Bombardier's two latest additions to the Global family, the Global 5500 and Global 6500, have been awarded Transport Canada type certification, paving the way for entry-into-service this year. Certification by the FAA and EASA is expected to follow shortly.

“Following their dramatic unveiling last year, these aircraft continue to surprise and surpass expectations,” enthuses president David Coleal. “Thanks to a new wing design and custom-made Rolls-Royce Pearl engines, the Global 5500 and Global 6500 jets boast farthest-in-class ranges, offering unrivalled performance and unsurpassed passenger comfort, at exceptional operating costs.

“Not only did we deliver on our commitments but we did on schedule, demonstrating the ingenuity, skill, rigour and consummate professionalism that is inherent to the longstanding winning DNA of our dedicated team members.”

The aircraft coasted through the OEM's rigorous flight testing programme, which was completed at its test centre in Wichita, Kansas. The Pearl 15 engine, the latest addition to Rolls-Royce's business aviation engine portfolio, also received Transport Canada certification recently. The engine, developed at the Rolls-Royce Centre of Excellence for Business Aviation engines in Dahlewitz, Germany, was custom-designed with innovative technology, including enhanced aerodynamics, blade cooling and advanced engine health monitoring systems, to power the Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft.

Dr. Dirk Geisinger, director business aviation Rolls-Royce, says: “This certification makes us very proud, as it illustrates the dedication of our global team to support our customer Bombardier and the planned entry into service later this year. We have worked closely with the teams at Transport Canada and Bombardier to achieve this certification and would like to thank them for their support.”

Equipped with the Bombardier Vision Flight Deck, the latest Globals offer a comprehensive avionics suite with ergonomics and aesthetics that provides pilots with comfort and control. The Global 5500 and Global 6500 business jets also debut the Nuage chaise, a unique lounge chair seat that converts into a flat surface for sleeping or banquet-style dining around the table, with long range flights in mind. Bombardier's patented Nuage seat is also exclusive to the new Global aircraft family.

These new aircraft build on the success of the Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft by offering 500 and 600 nautical miles of additional range respectively, coupled with an up to 13 per cent fuel burn advantage. The Global 5500 aircraft can connect Sao Paolo and Paris, and Moscow and Los Angeles; the Global 6500 aircraft can connect Hong Kong or Singapore and London, and Toluca and Madrid.