Bombardier Announces Order for Specialized Air-Ambulance Aircraft

Bombardier announced today that it has signed a firm purchase agreement with Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega (“Rega”) for three Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft. The transaction is valued at approximately $130 million US, based on 2015 list prices and includes various aircraft modifications, such as the installation of a medical evacuation interior. Deliveries of the modified Challenger 650 aircraft are scheduled for 2018.

A loyal Bombardier Challenger aircraft customer, Rega is the leading Swiss air-ambulance provider. As a privately funded foundation, its mission is to carry out air-rescue operations in Switzerland and to repatriate patients from abroad. As one of the world's pioneers in aeromedical evacuation, Rega has a long tradition in dealing with medical emergencies around the world. Their current fleet of three Challenger 604 aircraft are used exclusively for ambulance flights and are outfitted with intensive-care units.

“Bombardier has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Rega since 1982 when the company purchased its firstChallenger aircraft and again in 2002 with the addition of the Challenger 604 aircraft to its fleet,” said Stéphane Villeneuve, Vice-President, Specialized Aircraft, Bombardier. “We are very proud of the confidence that Rega continues to place in Bombardier, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.”

“A preferred medical evacuation platform, Challenger aircraft have a long-standing history of air-ambulance operations. With its enhanced performance from short runways and proven reliability and track record, we are convinced the next-generation Challenger 650 aircraft is the definitive choice to carry out Rega’s extremely critical air-ambulance missions,” added Mr. Villeneuve.

“We are pleased with the acquisition of an additional three Bombardier Challenger aircraft,” said Ernst Kohler, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Rega. “The aircraft meets our requirements perfectly and will again serve thousands of patients worldwide, as did its predecessors.”  Rega organizes and executes medical evacuations and medically escorted repatriations from anywhere in the world. “Our medical teams of experienced doctors and intensive-care nurses, as well as our pilots, appreciate the generous on-board conditions and the well-proven technology. We are pleased to rely on theChallenger platform to perform our life-saving missions,” added Mr. Kohler.

Bombardier Specialized Aircraft      

With one of the broadest and most reliable high-performance product lines in aviation today, Bombardier possesses the necessary expertise to recommend and facilitate the development of the ideal platform to tailor to the specific needs of more than a dozen specialized mission applications.

Today, more than 40 countries operate and are served by variants of Bombardier’s business and commercial aircraft fleets in various missions and specialized applications.

Challenger 650 Aircraft       

A true intercontinental aircraft with a range in excess of 4,000 nm (7,408 km)*, the Challenger 650 jet builds on the solid reputation of the Challenger 605 aircraft with improved features such as the newly-evolved GE engines offering greater, shorter take-off distance, extra payload capacity and greater range capabilities out of challenging airports. The Challenger 650 jet also features the Bombardier Vision flight deck and a completely restyled cabin, the widest-in-class, with modern-looking and ergonomic seats and redesigned galley, and business aviation’s most advanced and best-equipped Cabin Management System, largest-in-class HD monitors, and industry-leading connectivity capabilities.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world’s leading manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, we posted revenues of $20.1 billion. News and information are available at  bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter  @Bombardier.

Notes to Editors

Photo caption:  From left to right: Michel Ouellette, Vice-President, Business Aircraft Programs & Customer Services, Bombardier Business Aircraft; Ernst Kohler, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega; Philipp Simmen, Deputy Chief Pilot, Jet Operations and Project Manager, Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega; and Sylvain Leclerc, Vice-President, Procurement and Specialized Aircraft, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft

Additional information on the Challenger 650 aircraft is available at  www.bombardier.com

Follow  @Bombardier_Aero on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier.

*Under certain operating conditions

Bombardier, Challenger, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Challenger 650, and The Evolution of Mobility are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.  

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