A220 - new kid on the block for the VVIP market?

A project to convert an Airbus A220 into a VVIP or head of state aircraft, targeted for the Middle East market has been announced by a partnership of leading aviation management and design businesses.
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A project to convert an Airbus A220 into a VVIP or head of state aircraft, targeted for the Middle East market has been announced by a partnership of leading aviation management and design businesses.

Kestrel Aviation Management and Pierrjean Vision who presented the world’s first VVIP variant of the BBJ 787 DreamJet, along with Camber Aviation Management have worked together to prove the viability of the new narrowbody (formerly known as the CSeries) and are introducing it as a custom aircraft cabin that breaks the conventional mould.

With an anticipated range of 5,000nm and at a cost some 20% under that of a BBJ Max7 or ACJ319neo, Camber’s CEO Tom Chatfield said the new project offers “cabin floorspace and volume the equivalent to those ACJ and BBJ aircraft and integrates leading-edge technologies and safety features equal of superior to the latest generation of business jets.”

The partners also brought in F/List and Flying Colours to refine the detail design and perform engineering studies.

Kestrel Aviation CEO, Stephen Vella said the end product offered an elegant modular configurable layout to suit the different requirements of private and corporate owners, heads of state and charter operators. “It is perfect for Middle East to Europe and intra Asia missions,” Vella said.

The partners argue that the new airframe offers other advantages as do the new engines.

“Aerodynamically the aircraft is optimised. When we take a look at the fuel burn, it's significantly lower and the aircraft has a totally re-profilied nose. If you were to compare the nose of the A220 against an A320 or B737, You can see there's been with three decades of innovation before it, from an aerodynamics point of view.”

A ‘fly-through’ of the aircraft cabin has also been issued to show prospective customers just what can be achieved.