Source: Airbus Source: Airbus Close

In 2015, GFS became the launch customer of the H175 in public services version with an order for seven helicopters. The four remaining helicopters will be delivered before the end of the year.

"The Government Flying Service has been very involved in the development of this new H175 version and it is a great honor to be here today to receive the first three aircraft", said Michael Chan, Controller Head of GFS. "Thanks to the H175’s speed, advanced technology and versatility we will not only be able to strengthen our response capability but also be able to intervene in the most complex situations and in a large variety of scenarios."

GFS’s new H175 will progressively replace their current fleet of AS332 L2 and H155, which currently provide 24-hour emergency support services from their base at Chek Lap Kok Airport.

The public service version of the H175 benefits from more than twenty cabin configurations which can be easily re-configured based on mission requirements. The great versatility of the aircraft is backed by approximately seventy different types of optional equipment which include an electro-optical system for observation and tracking and a digital map display, both of being managed by an operator’s console installed in the cabin. Mission equipment also includes a dual hoist, a search light, an infrared camera, as well as a radioactivity detector, which is a GFS-specific equipment.

Source: Bell Helicopter Textron Source: Bell Helicopter Textron Close

"Bell is at the forefront of on-demand mobility - ushering a new era of flight where the benefits of aviation are accessible to more people in more places," said Scott Drennan, Bell's director of Innovation, while speaking at the Transportation Conference. "This announcement is another proof point of our commitment to providing transportation of people and logistics in new, innovative and more efficient ways; our work with Safran is a historical milestone for future transport solutions."

For several years, Safran innovation teams have been actively exploring the potential of hybrid solutions for future propulsion systems. Bell and Safran's shared vision for electric and hybrid electric aircraft is to strive for the successful deployment of Bell Air Taxis and new on demand mobility systems in the future.

"Thanks to the long and sustained technology-development strategy conducted within Safran, we can now offer Bell our hybrid electric power solutions for their next generation products that result in improved performance giving more value to our customers," said Stéphane Cueille, Safran senior executive vice president, R&T and Innovation.

In this collaboration, Bell will lead the design, development and production of VTOL systems, and Safran will bring its technical expertise to bear in the development of a disruptive propulsion system.

Source: Bombardier Source: Bombardier Close

"As the Global 7500 jet continues to progress towards its entry-into-service, we couldn’t be happier to welcome the first production aircraft in our Montreal facilities," said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "The Global 7500 interior completion work requires fine craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Bombardier Business Aircraft is taking its world-class expertise a step further through a new modular completion process leveraging advanced test rigs that ensure all customer aircraft surpass expectations at every level."

As part of the development program, interiors are validated on the ground in a one-of-a-kind Bombardier-designed test rig that replicates the conditions of flight related to airframe motions and flight loads using a production fuselage mounted on a pneumatic bed. This process allowed for the validation of the interior’s fit and finish well in advance of its actual installation on the Architect, the fourth flight test vehicle. Bombardier is now using this unique tool for the interiors installation process of its production aircraft to ensure enhanced operational efficiency and an uncompromised experience for customers.

"The Global 7500 aircraft’s production process, specifically the interior completion work, results from years of thoughtful planning to maximize efficiency while ensuring the utmost quality for customers," said Paul Sislian, Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "Our cutting-edge interior test rig allows our teams to conduct all major fit and finish adjustments at our Centre of Excellence, in advance of installation in the aircraft. This process significantly reduces our completions cycle time and will ensure a smooth entry-into-service and an exceptional product right from the start."

The Global 7500 aircraft is the largest and longest range business jet ever built, with a recently announced increased range of 7,700 nautical miles. Thanks to its sophisticated wing design, the Global 7500 aircraft has also exceeded takeoff and landing performance commitments, leading to a new published takeoff distance of 5,800 feet at full fuel in standard operating conditions. This improved takeoff performance distance is almost 500 feet shorter than the closest, and much smaller, competitor aircraft and enables the Global 7500 aircraft to access airports with shorter runways. The program’s five flight test vehicles are currently active and have completed over 2,300 flight test hours, demonstrating the high level of maturity and reliability of the aircraft.

In May, Bombardier announced that full-scale structural testing of the aircraft on the Complete Airframe Static Test (CAST) was successfully completed. Full-scale fatigue testing is also executing per plan, and Bombardier has successfully completed one lifetime of simulated flights, which exceeds the requirements at time of certification.

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