“This milestone is a testament to the skill and expertise of Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill team, and to our worldwide service centre network that supported the maintenance,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “This first-of-its-kind installation demonstrates our engineering expertise in complex integrations, coupling Ka-band with an ADR retrofit. We are thrilled to deliver this level of service to our customers so soon after opening our hangar doors in London.”
Bombardier’s Ka-band high-speed internet system is the industry’s fastest in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity worldwide available today. The Ka-band high-speed internet system lets passengers on board Global and Challenger 600 series aircraft browse the internet, stream online media or stage a videoconference as quickly and as effortlessly as they would in their home or office. Bombardier’s Ka-band is offered as an option on new Challenger 650 and Global aircraft, or as a retrofit upgrade on all in-service Global, Challenger 604, Challenger 605 and Challenger 650 aircraft at the company’s extensive network of service centres worldwide.
Since its inauguration in May, the facility has supported more than 40 maintenance events, including a 96-month inspection on a Challenger 605 aircraft, during which technicians also installed a Pro Line 21™ Advanced integrated avionics system to maximize the aircraft’s downtime. In March 2017, Biggin Hill Service Centre received certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom for maintenance of Learjet 70, Learjet 75, Challenger 300, Challenger 350, Challenger 600 series, Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft. The facility then received FAA certification in August 2017 and UAE GCAA CAR 145 certification in October 2017.
Daher rolls-out the 200th TBM 900-series very fast turboprop aircraft.
Daher has announced the roll-out of its 200th TBM 900-series very fast turboprop aircraft since the introduction of this upgraded family in March 2014. The milestone airplane, serial number 1200, is a TBM 910 version to be received this week by Cutter Aviation in San Antonio – a Daher-authorized TBM distributor for the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.Daher’s TBM 900 family – its sixth evolution from the original TBM 700 configuration – is the latest evolution of the company’s very fast turboprop concept, offered today in two production versions: the TBM 930, with Garmin’s G3000 integrated flight deck and touch screen controls; and the TBM 910, with Garmin next-generation G1000 NXi avionics technology replacing the original G1000 avionics suite.
These developments come together with passenger comfort refinements, incorporating the new seat style introduced in 2017, as well as the Elite Privacy option for a quick-change lavatory compartment in the TBM’s aft fuselage. Both current TBM 930 and TBM 910 production models retain the basic characteristics of the TBM 900, which evolved from a four-year development program, integrating 26 modifications to improve efficiency and deliver superior performance without increasing fuel consumption or engine power. They include airframe aerodynamic optimization through the addition of winglets, along with the integration of a vertical tailfin strake and new tail cone; the use of a five-blade composite propeller and redesigned spinner; as well as a completely revamped electrical system. The human-machine interface also was improved through the use of an ergonomic control yoke featuring new functions; a restyled cockpit panel for increased visibility and interaction with secondary system controls; and a revised cockpit center pedestal containing a single-control throttle, associated with a new torque limiter that enables the use of 850 hp. at takeoff.
