RE:Validation If Bellemare were to have made a good decision it would have been to sell the CSeries before they got neck deep into debt and were out of cards to make a play.
However, the blame really goes further. I would say he was more just a scapegoat here and that Pierre Beaudoin should take responsibility. Unfortunate as it is but our country just does not support entrepreneurship ie. to become a global player in commercial aviation. Any government monies handed over is heavily scrutinized unlike France, Germany or the USA that are global leaders with support from their government and its citizens.
Then there's the loss of our rail transportation. Future generations will pay the price when it comes time to upgrade our rail network and we have to buy from Alstom and wait for product behind other richer nations.
stockitnow wrote: Looking back, it was smart for Bellemare to get rid of C series. There have been rumors that Airbus will announce A220-500 but Airbus has said they wont.
Because of the rumors alot of analysts had looked at the a220 program in deep. Following are summary from various analysis.
A220 takes twice as long to build then 737 Max and Bombardier never pre stuff the fuselage before mating them which added time and cost money/delay.
A220 suppliers have higher margins on parts they make for a220 then a320/1neo due to the contract that Bombardier had signed with them. Suppliers wanted more as risk from c series was higher.
Margins are low to non existence on a220 line but AB has to continue selling a220 at discount rate as customers will pay less for a220 then a320.
Profit margin on a320neo is much higher and AB doesn't want to replace a320neo with low margin a220-500.
A220 500 will trigger boeing to come with all new design replacement for 737. AB doesn't want to trigger this as it will cause them to revamp a320/1. Boeing response will be one family of jet which will take on a220 and a320/2 at once. AB will have to respond as new boeing airplane will have lighter fuselage material and higher bypass engines.
A220 lack of pilot commonality with a320 and parts/maintenance scheduled makes airlines intergeneration expensive.
Bombardier also never had the money to production ramp up the program.