Aircraft Overview: Bombardier Global 5500

The Global 5500 is a twin-engine business jet that is produced by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier and based on the BD-700 type. Part of the company’s Global series of business jets—which are based on the BD-700-1A10, the -1A11 and -2A12 variants—the Global 5500 is based on the same -1A11 variant as the Global 5000, while also incorporating new Rolls-Royce engines and a wing that has a “fully re-profiled trailing edge.” Announced on May 27, 2018, the Global 5500 made its first flight in July 2018 and received Transport Canada approval on Aug. 26, 2019. 

As is the case with all Global airframes based on the BD-700-1A10, -1A11 and -2A12, the Global 5500 is certified to accommodate a maximum of 19 passengers. Those passengers are seated in a cabin that has a length of 40 ft. 9 in.—measured “from [the] cockpit divider to [the] aft most cabin,” excluding the baggage compartment—width of 7 ft. 11 in. and height of 6 ft. 2 in. That cabin, which is promoted by Bombardier as being the widest in its class, can be divided into three living areas: the club, conference and private suites. 

Pilots operate the Global 5500 using Bombardier’s Vision flight deck that includes four displays and is able to be equipped with a combined vision system (CVS) that integrates the enhanced and synthetic vision systems “in a single view.” Additional avionics features include automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) In capability, controller-pilot data-link communication (CPDLC), graphical flight planning, a head-up display (HUD) and MultiScan weather radar. 

- Michel Ouellette, Bombardier Aviation senior vice president of program management and engineering

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Mission and Performance

Operating limitations of the BD-700-1A11 include a maximum operating limit speed (MMO) of 0.90 Mach from 30,850 ft. to 36,313 ft., as well as a maximum operating altitude while enroute of 51,000 ft., with the latter specification reduced to 13,700 ft. for takeoff and landing. Assuming an airframe operated at the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), the initial cruise altitude is limited to 41,000 ft. In addition to the above-noted MMO, the high-speed and typical cruise speeds are 0.88 Mach and 0.85 Mach, respectively.

Variants

Powering the Global 5500 are Rolls-Royce’s Pearl 15 engines (BR700-710D5-21) that are purpose-built for the airframe, able to produce 15,125 lbf. of thrust and which are flat rated to 15C above standard. Bombardier also notes that, beyond the 92,500-lb. MTOW, the airframe has a basic operating weight of 50,861 lb. and is able to carry a maximum payload of 7,139 lb.