Country of origin:

Canada

Description:

Business and executive jet

Power Plant:

Two 8,729 lbst General Electric CF34-3B turbofans

Specifications:

History:

The Bombardier Challenger 600 series of business aircraft has been produced since 1986 by Canadair, a division of Bombardier Aerospace, the aircraft previously being known as the Canadair Challenger. By late 2015 more than 1,000 aircraft had been delivered and it was still in production. Two of the developments were the CRJ-100 and CRJ-200 series for third-level airlines. The series stemmed from the purchase by Canadair of the LearStar 600 designed by William Lear but not put into production.

Following re-design, the prototype was first flown at Montreal in Canada on 8 November 1978, two further prototypes flying in 1979 but one aircraft being lost on 3 April 1980 following a deep-stall recovery problem in the Mojave Desert in California, USA.

The aircraft was certified in both Canada and the United States in 1980. The Model CL-600 was powered by Avco Lycoming ALF 502L turbofans of 7,500 lbst and 81 were built. Further models included the CL-600S, three variants for the Royal Canadian Air Force comprising the CE-144, CX-144 and the CE-144 electronic warfare trainer.

The Model CL-604 was a major upgrade of the Model CL-601 design with uprated General Electric CF34-3B engines, increased fuel capacity, a new undercarriage for higher take-off and landing weights, structural improvements to the wings and tail, and a Rockwell Collins ProLine 4 avionics system. It had a range of 7,540 km (4,685 miles) with five passengers cruising at Mach 0.74.

The Model CL-605 was introduced in 2006 and had a structural upgrade including larger cabin windows, Collins ProLine 21 avionics and other improvements. A variant of this was developed as a maritime patrol aircraft.

Three Model 604s were imported in June and September 2002 by the RAAF for use by No 34 Squadron as VIP transports, these being A37-001 (c/n 5521), A37-002 (c/n 5534) and A37-003 (c/n 5538). These aircraft have been used to convey members of the Royal Family, the Governor General of Australia, and senior members of the Australian Government and other dignitaries. The aircraft have been based at RAAF Fairbairn in the ACT and have a crew of three (pilot, co-pilot and flight attendant) and seat up to nine passengers.

In October 2014 the Australian Government awarded a contract to Cobham Aviation to operate a 12 year contract to provide search-and-rescue work for the Maritime Safety Authority of Australia. These aircraft are owned by Cobham Aviation Services Australia and have been modified for their new role at the company’s Adelaide base in South Australia. They have a range of sensors including a search radar, FLIR, VIDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging System), beacon and direction finders, satellite communication equipment and a mission management system. They have modified large search windows and air operable doors for aerial delivery.

The first of the four aircraft obtained was C-FIDT which arrived in Adelaide on 27 December 2015. Operations began in August 2016 with this aircraft as VH-XNC (c/n 5619), which was registered on 29 January 2016, from Melbourne, VIC; the Cairns, QLD based aircraft commencing operations later that year, followed by the Perth, WA based aircraft. The fourth aircraft was an operational spare. The aircraft, owned by Cobham SAR Services Pty Ltd, have been operated by Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd. The aircraft replaced Dornier 328s operated by Paspaley Pearl Group subsidy, Aero Rescue, from Brisbane, QLD Darwin, NT Perth, WA and Cairns, which continued in service until the new aircraft took over.

Cobham Aviation Service commenced operations with the first of the four Model CL-604s under contract for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in December 2016. Newspaper reports at the time stated Cobham had experienced delays in modification, integration and certification of the aircraft by CASA, leading to a later than expected commencement of operations.