Breaking Ground to Build a Breakthrough Aircraft

March 20, 2009

Developing a world-class aircraft requires having the world’s best facilities. To manufacture the composite structure for our all new, state-of-the-art Learjet 85 business jet, we are leveraging the strength of our international facilities in Montreal, Wichita and Querétaro. Program activities are distributed across international sites with employees sharing information and using a common set of virtual tools to speed both the design and manufacturing of the Learjet 85.

The Montreal and Wichita facilities are currently splitting the engineering duties. The Querétaro, Mexico site will manufacture the composite structure for the Learjet 85 and will also manufacture the electrical harness and perform sub-assembly systems installation. Final Learjet 85 assembly will take place in Wichita, which is also the primary facility for systems integration, flight test, final assembly, aircraft completions, customer delivery and customer service.

Expanding capacity, enhancing innovation

With our world-class AS9100 certified facilities in Querétaro, we are continuing to expand our manufacturing capacity while increasing the efficiency of our operations. Located at the Querétaro Aerospace Park, groundbreaking has begun on the first phase of the new Learjet 85 facilities. This composite facility is expected to be commissioned by Q4 2009. The new site expansion is an excellent complement to the approximately 40 years of experience in advanced composites technologies we have developed across our many facilities.

To ensure success, composite training is already being provided for the Learjet 85 program. Training is taking place in classroom settings and via hands-on experience. Already, several classes have completed the training program at Montreal, Quebec facilities.

Look for more news to come on Bombardier’s Learjet 85 world-class facilities.