Bombardier Aerospace Granted Authority to Offer CSeries Aircraft to Customers: Important Step in Process Leading to Program Launch

Business Wire, March 15, 2005

MONTREAL -- Bombardier's Board of Directors today granted Bombardier Aerospace authority to offer the new CSeries family of aircraft to customers. The authority to offer is an important step in the process that could lead to the aircraft program launch. Prior to launch, Bombardier will seek firm commitments from potential customers, suppliers and government partners.

"In the CSeries status report presented to Board members, Bombardier Aerospace demonstrated the significant progress made in the evaluation of the aircraft configuration and performance, the strong market interest for the CSeries family as well as the overall business plan," said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. "We will now offer sales proposals to potential customers and finalize sales and partnership commitments before returning to the Board to request program launch and recommend the final assembly site location."

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2004 were $15.5 billion US and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.

CSeries is a trademark of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Please see the attached backgrounder for more information on the CSeries family of aircraft, or visit www.bombardier.com.

BACKGROUNDER

BOMBARDIER CSERIES: COMPETITIVE, CONTINENTAL, CONNECTOR

The CSeries is a competitive family of aircraft that offers unmatched operating economics, reliability, total life cycle support, unparalleled passenger appeal and operational flexibility to meet the demands of the future.

On February 26, 2004, Bombardier Aerospace announced the appointment of Gary R. Scott as President, New Commercial Aircraft Program. Since March 8, 2004, Mr. Scott has led a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate the feasability of a new generation commercial aircraft.

Description:

The CSeries aircraft is the first family of aircraft specifically designed for the 110- to 130-seat market segment.

Designed in two basic five-seat abreast versions, one version, the C110, will carry 110 passengers, while a larger version, the C130, will seat 130 passengers. Each of the two variants may be configured for either short-haul travel with a 1,800 nautical mile range or for transcontinental flights of up to 3,000 nautical miles. The CSeries family of aircraft will provide flexibility and range capability to expand airlines networks beyond current hub-and-spoke operations to point-to-point flying.

It will also share an engine, and have commonalities increw training, operating procedures as well as part and maintenance procedures.

To enable greater revenue generation and higher aircraft utilization, the CSeries aircraft is designed for simultaneous servicing points for quicker turn-around.

The C110 aircraft has an overall length of 114 feet, 8 inches (35 m) and the C130 aircraft an overall length of 125 feet, 3 inches (38.2 m).

Both C110 and C130 aircraft offers standard (STD) and extended range (ER) versions: the C110 STD has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 120,600 pounds (54,704 kg) and the C110 ER a MTOW of 133,200 pounds (60,420 kg). For its part, the C130 STD has a MTOW of 131,800 pounds (59,784 kg) and the C130 ER a MTOW of 146,000 pounds (66,226 kg).

The CSeries aircraft standard interior configuration includes three-by-two seating with a comfortable 32-inch pitch separated by a centre aisle, and forward and aft galleys and lavatories. Mixed class interior layouts are also available, with four-seat abreast business class, to suit operator requirements. For easy and comfortable cabin movement the CSeries aircraft interior has seven-foot (2.1 m) stand-up headroom and is designed to ensure sufficient cabin space for a roller bag for every passenger.

Key technologies are at the heart of the CSeries advantage. Composite materials are part of the center and rear fuselages, tail cone and empennage and wings. Overall, 20 per cent of the aircraft weight is in composite materials. In addition to its fourth-generation transonic wing design, the CSeries aircraft has an advanced flight deck equipped with fly-by-wire and side stick controls.

The CSeries aircraft is the perfect balance of leading-edge technology and proven methods and materials that will deliver a target 15 per cent cash operating cost advantage over current in-production aircraft.

Phases of the aircraft program:

- 2004 to 2006   Joint conceptual definition phase
- 2005           Board decision on ATO
- 2005           Board decision on formal launch
- 2005           CSeries official launch
- 2006           Joint development phase
- 2007           Detailed design phase
- 2008           First flight
- 2010           Entry into service

Bombardier, CSeries, C110, C130 and Competitive Continental Connector are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.