Century in Aviation Marked by Bombardier

Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired Short Bros in 1989, is marking its beginnings as the world’s first aircraft manufacturer having launched its business with a contract to build six Wright Flyers for the Wright brothers. Bombardier has, since then, played an increasingly pivotal role in regional...

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Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired Short Bros in 1989, is marking its beginnings as the world’s first aircraft manufacturer having launched its business with a contract to build six Wright Flyers for the Wright brothers. Bombardier has, since then, played an increasingly pivotal role in regional aviation.
Shorts, which produced the venerable Shorts 330 and 360 aircraft and helped to build many regionals in the first post-deregulation decade, was founded in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by the three Short brothers, Horace, Eustace and Oswald. Short Brothers was registered in Battersea, England, as an aircraft manufacturer in November 1908 and began manufacturing aircraft for the Wright brothers and others shortly thereafter. It established a factory in Belfast in 1936. The 330 and 360, un-pressurized turboprops, quickly earned the description of looking as if someone put wings on the box the aircraft came in. Despite that, however, it earned operators such as Command Airways, record earnings year after year, building it to become one of the largest regionals in the country before being acquired by AMR and becoming the foundation of the American Eagle program.
Besides launching the first aircraft manufacturing company, Short Bros paved the way for the development of the regional jet. In 1987, with the advent of the new, small, efficient engines, Shorts announced it would develop the world’s first purpose-built regional jet aircraft, testing conventional wisdom that jets could not economically serve regional markets. The news sent ripples through the industry, not only for defying conventional wisdom but even more for who was proposing such an aircraft. Shorts was perhaps the industry’s most conservative manufacturer, stubbornly sticking to un-pressurized equipment. At a time when all other manufacturers – Saab, ATR, and Embraer – were producing pressurized equipment, it was finally proposing not only a pressurized, aircraft, but one with jet engines.
Many, including Command Airways President Kingsley Morse, doubted the success of such a venture. Others, including Embraer, quickly concluded that the future of regionals was in jets. Still others suspected that the announcement was more of a ploy to make the company a more desirable acquisition, which happened when Bombardier acquired the Northern Ireland manufacturer. Even so, Shorts’ ideas for regional jet aircraft developed into the Bombardier CRJ 200, and completely changed the face of the regional airline industry worldwide.
Regional jet detractors ultimately proved right on the economics of serving small communities as new federal regulation in 1997 compounded their higher costs and forced the abandonment of many of the communities that had built the U.S. regional aircraft market. Instead, the regional jet proved even more successful as it offered mainline carriers increasing efficiency at a critical time as they off-loaded routes that had grown unprofitable or marginally profitable with their larger aircraft. Those routes quickly resumed profitability with the advent of the 50-seat jets. Today, they, themselves are becoming increasingly unprofitable, thanks to unprecedented fuel prices, paving the way for the increasing jet size. With 70- and 90+-seat aircraft already in the air, Bombardier is now considering the development of a 110- to 130-seat jet – the CSeries – which would mean breaking into the hotly competitive Boeing/Airbus fray.
The 1987 launch of its jet development program got a jump on its competition – the Embraer 145, announced after the CRJ 200, as Embraer struggled to survive. Indeed, many believed that Embraer would not survive and, were it not for its late-to-the-market jet, it may have missed the opportunity to rival Bombardier in regional jet market.
Over the last century, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, initially as Short Brothers, has pioneered many aviation advances. These include the first all-metal aircraft, the Silver Streak; the famous flying boats that opened up the long distance routes to the Far East and Southern Africa; the SC1 vertical take-off and landing research aircraft; the Shorts 330, which helped stimulate the development of the regional aircraft market. The Belfast facility has also made major contributions to Bombardier’s CRJ Series family, which has become the most successful regional aircraft in history, according to the company; and the Learjet 45 aircraft, the world’s first all-computer designed business jet.
At a special ceremony at Bombardier’s Belfast facility at Queen’s Island, signage celebrating 100 years of aircraft innovation was officially unveiled by the Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Nigel Dodds, in the presence of current and former employees.
“As a major contributor to the local economy, we have a wonderful aviation heritage,” said Michael Ryan, vice-president and general manager of Bombardier’s Belfast facility. “The engineering knowledge, ingenuity, and skills of our employees that have been the hallmark of our company throughout the last century continue today. This centenary year is not just an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the past, but to look forward to the next 100 years. As a world leader in key aerospace technologies, such as advanced composites and engine nacelle development, we are continuing to progress new technologies to ensure we remain at the forefront of aviation excellence, and carry on the tradition of innovation in which our company has always been rooted.”
The calendar of events for employees during the centenary year includes Family Days, aircraft displays, competitions and special events, and a commemorative book of photos, whilst external activities will include sponsorship of an international aeronautical conference, themed participation at the Farnborough International Air Show in July, events in Europe, and a special Centenary Gala Dinner.
Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast is one of the largest aerospace companies in the UK. It produces around 10 percent of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing exports, has an annual spend of almost £140m among some 800 suppliers in the UK and Ireland, and has the largest modern apprenticeship scheme on the island. It also contributes to the community through its charitable foundation, which donates two percent of its pre-tax profits to Northern Ireland-based charities focusing on education, equal opportunities, the environment and economic regeneration programs which have won national and regional awards.