Swiss Air-Rescue Rega Completes New Air Ambulance Fleet with Delivery of Third Bombardier Challenger 650 Business Jet
- Long-standing Bombardier customer Rega now has three specially configured, high-performing Challenger 650 aircraft to carry out urgent medical evacuations
- The Challenger 650 aircraft has the cabin size, flexibility, range and dependability to be the next generation of a proven life-saving platform
- With the highest wing loading of any aircraft in its class, the Challenger 650 aircraft provides an exceptionally smooth ride that benefits passengers receiving medical care, minimizes pilot fatigue and extends the life of mission equipment
Bombardier has proudly delivered a third Challenger 650 aircraft to Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, completing a next-generation fleet of air ambulances tasked with rescuing and repatriating Swiss citizens around the world.
Rega, a long-standing Bombardier customer, took possession of two other Challenger 650 aircraft earlier in 2018. This trio of aircraft replaces Rega’s Challenger 604 fleet, and demonstrates the non-profit foundation’s commitment to the renowned Bombardier Challenger platform.
“It is with the utmost confidence and pride that we deliver a third Challenger 650 aircraft to our partners at Rega,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Confidence because we know these aircraft have the reliability that is so important when lives are on the line, and pride to see the Challenger platform configured into the world’s most advanced air ambulance.”
Bombardier has a varied portfolio of business jets that can be readily modified for special missions. In this case the three Challenger 650 aircraft, with their widest-in-class cabins, were specially outfitted with two state-of-the-art intensive care units including two patient beds. Bombardier’s signature smooth ride provides a comfortable environment during any special mission.
Swiss Air-Rescue Rega is a non-profit foundation and one of the world's pioneers in aeromedical evacuation. In addition to repatriating patients from abroad with three ambulance jets, Rega carries out air-rescue operations in Switzerland with a fleet of 17 helicopters. Rega acquired its first Challenger aircraft from Bombardier in 1982 and has operated Challenger aircraft ever since.
The Challenger 650 aircraft combines the tried-and-true performance upon which Rega has depended for decades with the enhancements and technology to be the life-saving fleet of a new generation. A member of the world’s best-selling large business aircraft platform, the Challenger 650 aircraft is one of the world’s most reliable business jets, with an impressive range of 4,000 nautical miles and a cabin that is quieter than ever.
The Bombardier Vision flight deck aboard the Challenger 650 aircraft reduces pilot workload, and can be equipped with an advanced Head-up Display featuring Enhanced Vision. This leading-edge technology significantly improves situational awareness and operational capability, particularly in remote airfields with limited visibility.
Bombardier delivered all three Challenger 650 aircraft to Rega from Ontario, Canada. The delivery of the third aircraft took place on Dec. 17.
About Bombardier Specialized Aircraft
Bombardier Specialized Aircraft designs, develops and delivers a range of capabilities to operators around the world, with more than 1,000 specialized aircraft in service. Bombardier’s diverse fleet, which includes the Learjet, Challenger and Global business aircraft platforms, represents the ideal solution for government missions, from surveillance and reconnaissance to medical evacuations or VIP transport. Solutions range from turnkey packages comprising the complete design, building, testing and certification activity, through to specialist engineering support and technical oversight of customer-specific projects.
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