Bombardier arrived in style at LABACE 2005, bringing with it a Global 5000, a Global Express, a Challenger 300 and Special Edition Learjet 60 for the static display, and announcing the sale of two of its new Global 5000s to launch customers in Central and South America.

One aircraft went to a multinational company in Honduras, which plans to deploy the jet primarily on high-speed north/south operations. The other Global 5000 was sold to a Brazilian corporation that expects to use the big business jet primarily for intercontinental travel to North America and Europe.

Bombardier’s commitment to service in Latin America was served by announcements that it has appointed OceanAir an authorized service facility for the Learjet line. As a
Bombardier service facility, OceanAir will offer a full range of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, maintain an inventory of key spare parts and perform warranty services.

To accommodate the additional workload, OceanAir has signed an agreement with Target Aviacao at Congonhas Airport for hangar space. The facility, approved by the Brazilian Department of Civil Aviation, was scheduled to begin operations in the spring. OceanAir expects eventually to expand its authorization to include Bombardier’s Global and Challenger lines as well.

Bombardier also revealed plans to “significantly increase” spare parts availability in the region by the fourth quarter. By year-end, the company expects to be operating a bonded warehouse from which it will provide spare parts to all of South America. “Our goal is to deliver all necessary parts within 12 hours,” said Fabio Rebello, Bombardier v-p of Latin American sales. Priority, he added, will be given to AOG requirements.