Story ID: GPcs100lcy04262017
Bombardier CS100 Gains Steep-Approach Approvals
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: EASA certification allows Swiss International Airlines to fly into London City Airport
Word Count: 368
Transport Canada and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Wednesday awarded the Bombardier CS100 its steep approach certifications, allowing the smaller of the two C Series models to operate into and out of London City Airport (LCY). Swiss International Air Lines plans to become the first airline to operate the C Series at LCY.

“The CS100 aircraft steep approach certification process went smoothly as the C Series is the only commercial aircraft specifically designed for operations at challenging airports,” said Bombardier Commercial Aircraft C Series program vice president Rob Dewar. “The CS100 will also double the range that can be flown viably from LCY, opening new routes for airlines and passengers.”

Bombardier vice president of product development and chief engineer François Caza attributed the CS100's ability to gain the certification largely to its use of the latest technology in aural and head-up display systems. 

“To be certified for operations at LCY, we had to show that the aircraft could perform at a greater approach angle, take off and land on the airport’s short runway and meet the local noise requirements,” he explained. “Our crew successfully demonstrated as expected, the CS100 aircraft's capability and maneuverability. The aircraft now joins our Q400 turboprop aircraft, as well as our Challenger 650, Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets which already access this challenging airport regularly.”

Late last month Bombardier flew a C Series CS100 with a representative payload nonstop from London City Airport to New York JFK Airport in New York City following the completion of its demonstration tests for the steep-approach, short-field landing at LCY.

Steep takeoff and approach requirements at London City call for a 5.5 degree glideslope, and Bombardier must test and validate the C Series to 8.5 degrees to qualify to operate there. In its full 108-seat cabin layout, the CS100 can fly some 2,350 nautical miles into and out of London City. It can reach New York from LCY in a 42-passenger configuration. British Airways’ Airbus A318 flies 36 passengers on that route with a stop in Shannon, Ireland, for refueling. Late last summer it cut the frequency on the route from twice to once a day.