Inflight Editor Satu Dahl speaks with business jet manufacturer Bombardier ahead of the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) taking place in Geneva on 23-25 May.
What is Bombardier most looking forward to at EBACE 2022?
Bombardier is excited to attend the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition – we’re returning to EBACE at a perfect time with interest in business aviation at its highest levels in over a decade, and more people than ever accessing this safe and efficient mode of transportation. It’s a key show for us to showcase our innovations in terms of sustainability as well as aerodynamics, such as our smooth flex wing, which on the Global 7500 provides industry leading low-speed performance, high-speed cruise and the smoothest ride.
More than ever, we look forward to showcasing our aircraft, highlighting the expertise of our world-class services and support teams and have our experts on site to provide information to our stakeholders in person.
What are your biggest innovations when it comes to business jet interiors?
Bombardier is an industry leader in business jet interior design – two of our leading business jets, the Global 7500 and the Challenger 3500, were honoured with Red Dot awards, one of the most sought-after international recognitions for design and innovation excellence.
Innovation is embedded in Bombardier’s DNA and the Nuage seat is just one example. The patented Nuage seat was conceived, designed and configured for exceptional comfort. In designing the Nuage seat, Bombardier set out to completely re-engineer an aircraft seat architecture to fundamentally alter the way the seat moves and supports the passenger.
At the heart of the Nuage seat are features unavailable on any other seat in business aviation, including:
- An unprecedented deep recline featuring a patented tilt link system that uniquely pivots the seat backwards at the knees as it reclines. This keeps the body fully supported with no added pressure on the legs.
- A one-of-a-kind floating base, housing a novel fluid movement system for effortless tracking. A thoughtfully engineered swivel axis maintains an intuitively centered point of rotation in any position.
- A unique tilting headrest, providing essential neck support for ergonomic excellence.
Bombardier’s Global 5500, Global 6500, Global 7500 and Challenger 3500 aircraft all feature the Nuage seat, which is the first meaningful change in the operation and design of a business aircraft seat in 30 years. The seat is also the crown jewel in the interior of Bombardier’s newest aircraft, the Challenger 3500 business jet.
Launched in September 2021, Bombardier prioritised the cabin experience on the Challenger 3500 aircraft and designed it with sustainability in mind to reflect the company’s priorities and the priorities of its customers. In addition to the Nuage seat, customers have the option to choose from a selection of environmentally conscious and high-end sustainable materials for the cabin, including eucalyptus veneer, natural carpets that are produced using resilient plants that don’t require water irrigation and are biodegradable, and upcycled wool and polyester textiles.
The Challenger 3500 aircraft interior also introduces several innovative technological features, such as the industry’s first voice-controlled cabin to manage lighting, temperature and entertainment systems, the first wireless chargers throughout the cabin and the only 24-inch, 4K display in its class.
How do you see the business aviation market developing this year?
The business aviation market is doing very well – the pandemic fuelled an increased interest in private travel, acting like an accelerator for first-time business jet customers. We’ve also seen the market recover faster than expected with flight hours surpassing those in 2019 and pre-owned aircraft inventory hitting record lows. What’s even more encouraging is that conditions are in place for the market to keep growing exclusive of the pandemic effect. Given that that medium and large categories will continue to represent 90% of industry revenues, Bombardier is in a good position to grow its share of this market with a solid portfolio of products, including its Challenger and Global families of business jets.
