The Challenger 604 intercontinental business jet, a major upgrade of the 601 design, was introduced in 1996. Over 800 Challenger aircraft have been delivered to operators in more than 50 countries. The aircraft has completed over 4,000,000 flight hours with a dispatch reliability of over 99% as of September 2009.
The aircraft can accommodate up to 19 passengers and provides a 4,077nm range (7,551km) with non-stop connection for London to Chicago, Riyadh to Paris and other key city pairs.
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Challenger 605
In November 2005, Bombardier announced the launch of a successor to the 604, the Challenger 605. The 605 has an increased payload capacity of 91kg, which will allow either an additional passenger or extra fuel to be carried for greater range.
Other features include the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with four 10in×12in (25.4cm×30.5cm) vertically aligned LCD displays and Rockwell Collins integrated flight information system (IFIS) fitted as standard.
The interior has been redesigned to provide more headroom and cabin volume. The windows have also been enlarged and relocated. The first flight took place in January 2006. The aircraft received certification from Transport Canada (TC), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October 2006. The Challenger 605 entered service in January 2007 with Bombardier’s demonstration fleet.
The final Challenger 604, the 365th, rolled off the production line in October 2006 for delivery in 2007.
The current product range also includes the Challenger 300 (formerly the Continental) and the Challenger 850. The 850 corporate shuttle entered service in March 2006 and the 850 executive in November 2006.
A number of Challenger 604 aircraft are in service with government agencies. In November 2001, Bombardier delivered the last of three aircraft for the Royal Danish Air Force. The special missions aircraft are being modified by Field Aviation of Toronto with a Telephonics surveillance radar and FLIR Systems’ FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) and will be used for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and long range VIP transportation and medical evacuation.
The modified aircraft, designated CL604, first flew in February 2003 and was delivered in February 2004. In January 2004, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered one aircraft with two options for runway and airway calibration and other special missions. In December 2005, the US Coastguard acquired a Challenger 604 aircraft variant C–143A for its command and control operations.
Flight deck
The flight deck is equipped with dual controls for the pilot and co-pilot.
The avionics suite is based on a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 integrated system with a six-tube (184mm×184mm) EFIS, a dual-channel autopilot and flight director, a dual flight management system and a digital automatic flight control system.
The pilots’ communications suite includes dual VHF and HF radios, dual air traffic control transponders and a cockpit voice recorder. The aircraft is certified for Cat II operations.
The TWR-854 colour digital weather radar provides turbulence protection. The aircraft’s navigation systems include a dual Northrop Grumman (Litton) LTN-101 laser inertial reference system, dual VHF navigation, a dual-distance measuring system and a dual automatic direction finder.
Bombardier is offering an avionics upgrade, the Rockwell Collins PrecisionPlus, for the 604. PrecisionPlus enhances the Pro Line 4 and features automation of Vspeed calculation and thrust setting as primary information and three-dimensional display of the aircraft’s flight plan. This is coupled with a new enhanced auto-throttle system. This system is now installed on all production aircraft and can be retrofitted.
Cabin
The flight deck, cabin and baggage compartment are pressurised and air-conditioned. An active noise vibration control system developed by Ultra Electronics can be installed.
The 19m² cabin can be configured with up to nine business-class seats. Alternatively higher-density seating can be installed for up to 19 passengers. The cabin interior is installed to meet the customer’s requirements.
Bombardier is offering an optional improved extended interior cabin configuration that adds two windows to the seating area and extends its length by 0.5m.
Safety systems
The windscreen and side windows of the flight deck are fitted with electrical anti-icing. A Hamilton Sundstrand bleed air system provides anti-icing to the wing leading edges, the engine air intake cowls and the guide vanes.
Fire detectors and a dual-action fire extinguishing system are installed in the engine nacelles. Fire detectors and extinguishers are also installed in the auxiliary power unit.
Challenger medevac
The medical evacuation version, the Challenger medevac, can carry infant incubators, and life support and intensive care systems, or up to seven stretcher patients with medical staff.
The medical equipment includes a an infant monitor and foetal heart monitor, cardio-resuscitation system, a heart defibrillator, electro-cardiogram, and a suite of resuscitation systems and equipment for anti-shock treatment.
Engines
The aircraft has two General Electric CF34-3B turbofan engines each providing 38.84kN (8,729lbs) thrust at take-off. The engine nacelles from Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, are mounted on pylons on the rear of the fuselage. The engines are fitted with cascade fan-air thrust reversers.
The fuel tanks can be augmented by auxiliary tanks bringing the maximum fuel load to 9,072kg. The aircraft has pressure and gravity refuelling points.
The aircraft has two 30kVA generators supplying the three-phase 115/200V Ac primary power. The DC supply comes from four transformer rectifiers and a primary and secondary battery. A Honeywell GTCP-100E gas turbine auxiliary power unit provides the power for engine starting and ground air conditioning.
Landing gear
The Challenger has retractable twin-wheel tricycle type landing gear. Each unit is fitted with Dowty shock absorbers. The wheels are fitted with Aircraft Braking Systems’ multi-disc anti-skid carbon brakes.
