Bombardier is celebrating the completion of the 100th wing for its Global 7500 business jet, a significant milestone for the aircraft and for the company's facility in Red Oak, Texas, where the advanced wing is manufactured.

The wing is said to epitomise Bombardier ingenuity and know-how and contributes to the aircraft's performance and smooth ride. It also plays a significant role in the aircraft's short-field capabilities. The Global 7500 programme recently marked its 50th aircraft delivery and continues to garner significant interest from customers worldwide for its technology, cabin design and performance.

“This is an important milestone for our Global 7500 programme, and we are proud of our skilled team in Red Oak, Texas,” says executive VP of operations Paul Sislian. “Their dedication and expertise in manufacturing this truly unique wing, built exclusively for the Global 7500 business jet, is what helps make it the industry flagship.”

Since its entry into service in 2018, the Global 7500 business jet has demonstrated dispatch reliability of 99.7 per cent. It has completed various key speed records and challenging flights, including the longest city-pair flown by a purpose-built business aircraft, connecting Sydney and Detroit non-stop.

The aircraft has also received multiple accolades, including the 2019 Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award, the 2019 Robb Report Best of the Best Business Jet of the Year Award, and the 2018 Red Dot Award for Product Design. With four distinct living spaces plus a dedicated crew rest area, it is spacious and comfortable and features patented cabin innovations.

Bombardier's 600-plus employees in Red Oak play a critical role in ensuring the success of the technologically advanced wing programme. In 2019, Bombardier established the Bombardier Aviation Apprenticeship Program (BAAP) in association with Texas State Technical College (TSTC). The initiative is designed to develop local talent, drive regional aerospace growth and support the manufacture of the Global 7500 aircraft wing. The BAAP programme is critical in keeping up with increased customer demand.

Earlier this year, Bombardier was awarded the Large Employer of the Year award from Texas Workforce Solutions for its work with TSTC in the development of the BAAP initiative. The Large Employer of the Year award honours one private-sector employer with 500 employees or more whose efforts and initiatives have resulted in an extraordinary impact on the state of Texas, as well as the employers, workers and community in which the employer operates.