Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega signs firm agreement for three Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft
Bombardier signs a firm purchase agreement with Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega for three Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft Bombardier announced today that it has signed a firm purchase agreement with Swiss Air-Ambulance Rega (“Rega”) for three Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft. The transaction is valued at approximately $130 million US, based on 2015 list prices and includes various aircraft modifications, such as the installation of a medical evacuation interior. Deliveries of the modified Challenger 650 aircraft are scheduled for 2018.
A loyal Bombardier Challenger aircraft customer, Rega is the leading Swiss air-ambulance provider. As a privately funded foundation, its mission is to carry out air-rescue operations in Switzerland and to repatriate patients from abroad. As one of the world’s pioneers in aeromedical evacuation, Rega has a long tradition in dealing with medical emergencies around the world. Their current fleet of three Challenger 604 aircraft are used exclusively for ambulance flights and are outfitted with intensive-care units.
“Bombardier has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Rega since 1982 when the company purchased its first Challenger aircraft and again in 2002 with the addition of the Challenger 604 aircraft to its fleet,” said Stéphane Villeneuve, Vice-President, Specialized Aircraft, Bombardier. “We are very proud of the confidence that Rega continues to place in Bombardier, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.”
“A preferred medical evacuation platform, Challenger aircraft have a long-standing history of air-ambulance operations. With its enhanced performance from short runways and proven reliability and track record, we are convinced the next-generation Challenger 650 aircraft is the definitive choice to carry out Rega’s extremely critical air-ambulance missions,” added Mr. Villeneuve.
“We are pleased with the acquisition of an additional three Bombardier Challenger aircraft,” said Ernst Kohler, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Rega. “The aircraft meets our requirements perfectly and will again serve thousands of patients worldwide, as did its predecessors.” Rega organizes and executes medical evacuations and medically escorted repatriations from anywhere in the world. “Our medical teams of experienced doctors and intensive-care nurses, as well as our pilots, appreciate the generous on-board conditions and the well-proven technology. We are pleased to rely on theChallenger platform to perform our life-saving missions,” added Mr. Kohler.
Bombardier Specialized Aircraft
With one of the broadest and most reliable high-performance product lines in aviation today, Bombardier possesses the necessary expertise to recommend and facilitate the development of the ideal platform to tailor to the specific needs of more than a dozen specialized mission applications.
Today, more than 40 countries operate and are served by variants of Bombardier’s business and commercial aircraft fleets in various missions and specialized applications.
April 10, 2015 Montréal Aerospace, Press Release
