Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace has used today's (18 June) opening of the 47th Paris Air Show, to announce that its new widebody Challenger 605 business jet has now been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada (TC) to operate into London City Airport (LCY).
Approval for steep approach and landing capability at London City applies to all Challenger 604 and Challenger 605 aircraft registered in European Union member states and Canada. In order to qualify to operate at London City Airport, an aircraft must demonstrate its ability to be flown safely at a 5.5-degree or greater approach angle, take-off and land on the airport”s 1199m runway and meet local noise requirements.
”This is fantastic news for Challenger aircraft operators and an important advantage for busy executives who fly on Challenger 604 and Challenger 605 jets,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft president, Pierre Gabriel C”t”. ”London is one of the world”s most important financial centres and London City Airport is, by far, the quickest way to access the city.”
Open since September 2002, the London City Airport Jet Centre has been a great success and now is responsible for more than 10% of the airport”s business. It also runs the civilian side of RAF Northolt in west London. London City has capacity for up to 14,000 aircraft movements per year.
The Challenger 605 is the latest development of a series of mid-size aircraft by Bombardier that has taken 51% of the market. With a cabin height of 6” 1” (1.85m) and a width 8” 3” (2.51m), the same as the CRJ regional jet series from the same stable, it provides plenty of space for passengers on sectors of up to 8 hours. The restricted length of the London City runway means that its full transatlantic potential to New York cannot be used, but in an easterly direction an overnight crossing could be possible.