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Centennial Downsview facility renamed Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation

Centennial College on January 28 announced it is renaming its recently opened Centre for Aerospace and Aviation at Downsview Park as The Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation. The college also announced it is receiving a Bombardier Global 7500 flight test vehicle for training purposes.

“As the global demand for aerospace technicians and technologists continues to grow, the strategic advantage of Bombardier and Centennial’s relationship is only amplified,” said Dr. Craig Stephenson, president and CEO, Centennial College. “The commitment of both partners not only aims to support the increasing labour demands of the sector, but also bolsters Ontario’s and Canada’s leadership position in a competitive global sector.”

The donated Bombardier Global 7500 business jet (serial number 70004), interlay referred to as “The Architect” was the fourth Flight Test Vehicle (FTV4) of the program. It was used for interior validation testing. Since its maiden flight on September 28, 2017, the aircraft accumulated approximately 731 flight hours. Global 7500 aircraft are assembled at Bombardier’s facility in Toronto.

Centennial explains its students will receive hands-on experience working on the Global 7500 prototype, which will have a permanent spot outside Centennial’s new hangar at its Downsview Park facility, which opened in January 2019. The Global 7500 FTV4 donation is also made possible by those suppliers providing their systems within the aircraft, including: Collins Aerospace for its Avionic suite; Parker Hannifin for its fly-by wire system; Safran Power Units San Diego for the Auxiliary Power Unit; Woodward Inc. for the rudder pedal; GE Aviation Systems for the Aircraft Health Monitoring Unit; and GE Passport.

“Bombardier is proud to continue supporting Centennial College in their mission to prepare the next generation of aerospace professionals,” said Alain Bellemare, president and CEO, Bombardier. “With this Global 7500 aircraft donation, students will receive incomparable hands-on training using the industry’s latest advanced technology.”

In February 2019, Bombardier donated a CRJ200 to Centennial College for training purposes and is also providing the college with $150,000 for the completion of its Landing Gear Research project. Centennial explains this program is expected to train a minimum of 50 individuals for each of the next two years at its facility, which serves as the anchor for the new Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research (DAIR) Hub.