Bombardier Aerospace has promoted Peter Edwards to president of its business aircraft unit. Edwards, who has served in other executive positions in the business aircraft unit since joining the company in 1995, takes the left seat from Pierre Beaudoin (son of Bombardier chairman Laurent Beaudoin), who became president and COO of Bombardier Aerospace this past October. Pierre Beaudoin became president of the business aircraft unit last February, when he replaced Robert Gillespie, who was reassigned as president and COO of Bombardier Capital.

Edwards takes charge of the business aircraft unit at a difficult time in the company’s history. As a result of the slowing economy, Bombardier delivered fewer airplanes last year than the previous year. The company has also reduced employment levels, with more layoffs in the offing. Production is expected to be adjusted downward this year for all its business jet models, in anticipation of fewer orders.

Bombardier delivered 147 business jets in the first nine months of last year, 9 percent fewer than the 162 airplanes shipped in the same period in 2000. In all of that year, Bombardier delivered 207 jets, a healthy gain over the 173 handed over in 1999.