L'usine de Mirabel de Bombardier s'apprête à accueillir l'assemblage final des avions CSeries destinés aux essais en vol

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - 7 avril 2011) - Bombardier a démarré la

production sur son site de fabrication d'avions de Mirabel (Québec) en vue de l'assemblage final du premier avion CSeries destiné aux essais en vol. Il s'agit d'une nouvelle étape dans l'agrandissement en cinq phases de l'usine de Mirabel, dont la superficie finira par doubler jusqu'à atteindre 79 897 mètres carrés. 

Une optimisation de l'espace et une modernisation des outils du complexe de Mirabel qui ont démarré le mois dernier, permettront l'assemblage final du premier avion CSeries conçu pour les essais en vol et le programme d'homologation. La zone d'essai des systèmes intégrés (CIASTA), la première sur l'usine de Mirabel créée pour le programme d'avions CSeries, progresse conformément au calendrier prévu avec l'installation actuellement en cours de bancs d'essai des systèmes. 

In addition, new buildings for the CSeries aircraft program will include a supplier satellite area; final assembly structural joining and pulse line areas; an area for pre-flight testing; paint shops; and a delivery and administrative centre. 

Production, quality and ergonomic requirements are driving Bombardier's technical approach to the final assembly of the CSeries aircraft. While they will be shorter than the 128-foot (39-metre)-long CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet, the largest aircraft currently produced at the Mirabel plant, the CSeries aircraft will have a fuselage with a larger diameter, their wings will be longer and their tails taller than those on the CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft. Bombardier will therefore employ different final assembly techniques to those used for its regional jets. As an example, two pairs of robots will be used to drill holes, apply sealant and install fasteners to join the major sections of the CSeries aircraft's fuselage. 

"Advanced robot technology will provide predictable repeatability, enhance quality and prevent ergonomic issues on the assembly line," said Francois Minville, Vice President, CSeries Manufacturing, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The fuselage of the CSeries aircraft is 12 feet (3.7 metres) in diameter, which presents an assembly challenge using our conventional methods. The benefit of the robots is they can work on the top, the side and underneath the aircraft without any limitations." 

A moving production line is being introduced at Bombardier's St-Laurent Manufacturing Centre, where major components of the CSeries aircraft, such as the cockpit and aft fuselage, are being produced, and a moving final assembly line is planned for Mirabel. Compared to many other industries, aircraft manufacturing has traditionally been characterized as a low volume, long cycle time industry. The introduction of a moving final assembly line creates a dynamic environment that improves production efficiency. 

To reduce the cycle time required to assemble a larger and more complex airliner, Bombardier is introducing advanced processes to ensure that high quality parts are received at the plant on time. 

"We are enhancing our quality culture at Bombardier to support the production of the CSeries aircraft," said Mr. Minville. "Through the sharing of knowledge and best practices, we are building on our experience with aircraft programs that involve risk-sharing suppliers and are refining our processes." 

Beginning with the development of the ultra long-range Global Express business jet in the mid-1990s, Bombardier has obtained considerable experience working with international partners and a global supply chain in building large structural aircraft components, such as wings and fuselages. To augment this experience, new advanced quality planning (AQP) and advanced logistics planning (ALP) processes are being introduced to identify potential areas of risk in