Bombardier's Global 5500 Enters Service

The last and smallest of the upgraded variants of Bombardier’s legacy Global family, the $46 million Global 5500, has entered service with delivery to an undisclosed customer, the Canadian airframer recently announced.  Unveiled alongside the upgraded Global 6500 at the 2018 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition,  the Global 5500 received its type certification from Transport Canada, the European  Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the Federal Aviation Administration last year.

Featuring three living areas with Nuage seating and powered by a pair of 15,125-pound-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines, the 5500 has a range of 5,900 nm—200 nm more than originally planned. 

The Global 5500, along with the earlier 5000 variant, breaks from tradition with interior completions done at Bombardier’s Wichita site, where the Montreal-based company assembles Learjets, operates service and flight-test centers, and performs specialized aircraft work.

With a top speed of Mach 0.90, the 5500 accommodates up to 16 passengers. It also has Bombardier’s Vision flight deck, Ka-band connectivity, and an air purification system with an advanced HEPA filter.