Bombardier Global 5000: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide
A guide for buyers of the Bombardier Global 5000 range of business jets from the Canadian manufacturer.
Pros
A popular long-range aircraft, with a great cabin. Being steep-approach certified makes it a versatile aircraft.
Cons
More expensive to operate than competitors’ aircraft.
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Flying
The Global 5000 is capable of flying 8 passengers 5,200nm – far enough to pair London and Los Angeles, Dubai and Perth or Moscow and Singapore. The Global 5000 is the smallest of the Global range, and large-cabin aircraft from other OEMs have greater range. If you need to fly further without wanting to take a fuel stop, consider the Global 6000 or 7000 – soon to be the longest-range business jets available.
A top speed of Mach 0.89 (682mph/1098kph) makes the Global 5000 a quick aircraft – but not the fastest in its segment.
With a maximum operating altitude of 51,000ft, the Global 5000 helps save time by being able to fly over any bad weather and commercial aircraft – although most business jets have similar capabilities.
The G5000 features large carbon brakes, allowing the aircraft to stop in 2,670ft/814m. This doesn’t just provide additional safety – it also increases versatility – enabling passengers access to airports with shorter runways on which other large jets can’t land. The Global 5000 is also steep-approach certified, allowing the aircraft to land at airports such as London City, Lugano and Aspen. Being able to fly transatlantic routes and land at small airports makes the Global 5000 a highly versatile aircraft.
Travelling
The spaciousness of the cabin is among the first things you notice when entering a Global 5000. A width of 7ft 11in/2.41m and height of 6ft 2in/1.88m provides plenty of space for passengers to be comfortable and move around in-flight. The cabin can be configured to seat up to 16 passengers, even though the typical mission will only carry 8 passengers.
Although passengers are able to travel in comfort, the crew is less fortunate. A reduction in fuselage length means that the Global 5000 has no rest area – in other words, for the longest of trips the crew will have to go without resting.
Image: Bombardier
The cabin is split into three separate zones. They zones can be configured as a double-club seating area, a four-place table, a lounge area with divans or a credenza with entertainment functionality. These zones sit alongside a fully equipped wet galley, a full lavatory (that can include a shower) and in-flight accessible baggage storage.
The cabin includes WiFi with video streaming capability, four large LCD screens, a cabin management app for smartphones and a full-berthing divan and wardrobe –creating a functional yet highly comfortable environment on long missions.
Bombardier updated the cabin design for new Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft in 2017, and, as such, aircraft delivered after this overhaul will include more-comfortable seats, greater connectivity and more luxurious materials throughout the cabin. However, Bombardier will retrofit older airframes with the new interior.
Owning
Since deliveries started in 2005, 223 aircraft have been produced. But new deliveries have slowed, with only 16 Global 5000s being delivered between Q2 2015 and Q1 2018.
As of May 2018, the active fleet was 216, with 12 aircraft for sale (5.56% of the active fleet). The average asking price was $13.9 million, with the average model year being 2009. Aircraft are on the market for an average of 272 days.
A new Global 5000 will cost $50 million. Between 2009 and 2017, Global 5000s have been depreciating at an annual average rate of $4.3 million – slightly less than 10% of the list price for a new G5000.
Since 2015, the percentage of the worldwide fleet of Global 5000s for sale has been at 10% or under – indicating there is hard market for the aircraft type.
Be aware — Global Express aircraft require a significant maintenance check called the 8C. This check occurs after 10 years, and is both extensive and expensive. If the aircraft is undergoing this check, it is a good time to refurbish the interior, as the check requires significant interior dismantling. As of May 2018, 27% of the active Global 5000 fleet will require the 8C check in the next 4 years.
The variable operating cost for a Global 5000 is $4,061 per hour – assuming fuel costs $4.30 per gallon. This cost includes fuel, maintenance cost and trip expenses.
Fixed cost for the Global 5000 is reckoned at $599,978 per year. This includes crew training and expenses, insurance as well as maintenance tracking. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hard Facts
Maximum range: 5,983 miles/ 9,630km /5,200nm
Maximum speed: 586mph/944kmh/Mach 0.89
Typical passengers: 8
Typical crew: 3
List price for new aircraft: $50 million
Pre-owned price: $13.9 million
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