Bombardier Aerospace Receives Order for Two Q400 Aircraft From Hydro-Quebec.

Business Editors

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2001

Bombardier (TSE:BBD.A.) (TSE:BBD.B.)

Bombardier Aerospace today announced that Hydro-Quebec has placed a firm order for two 72-seat Bombardier Q400(a) aircraft for the employees' shuttle between Montreal and airfields serving hydro-electric generating sites in Northern Quebec.

Hydro-Quebec is presently in the process of replacing its fleet of four Convair 580 turboprops.

Upon delivery, the Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be certified for gravel runways, which predominate at Hydro-Quebec's northern airstrips. In addition, the aircraft will be retrofitted after delivery with a heads-up guidance system (HGS) to enhance operations in harsh climatic conditions. The HGS system will help achieve an on-time schedule performance rate of 99% on operations throughout the year.

"We based our aircraft selection on reliability, performance and operating economics over a 10-year period," said Elie Saheb, president of Engineering, Procurement and Construction at Hydro-Quebec. "The Bombardier Q400 proved to be the aircraft that met all of these strict criteria."

"We're proud to have Hydro-Quebec as the first Canadian operator of the Bombardier Q400," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Regional Aircraft. "The scheduled Hydro-Quebec employee shuttle demands a very high degree of reliability despite the severe climatic conditions common to winter in Northern Quebec. We appreciate Hydro-Quebec's confidence that the Bombardier Q400 will meet the conditions imposed on it."

Hydro-Quebec established its aviation arm in the early 1970s during the construction phase of the James Bay Hydro Electric Project in Northwestern Quebec. Today, the fleet moves employees from southern regions to operate and maintain the utility's various electric generating sites.

The Bombardier Q400s will be based at Montreal's Dorval International Airport and will provide scheduled service from Montreal, Quebec City, Rouyn-Noranda and Bagotville to five power-generating sites in Northern Quebec.

The Bombardier Q400, with 68 to 78 seats, is the largest capacity aircraft in the Bombardier Aerospace turboprop family and it offers the lowest seat-mile costs in the industry. Along with the 37- to 39-seat Bombardier Q200* and 50- to 56-seat Q300*, the Q400 offers an extremely quiet and low vibration cabin environment thanks to its superb Noise and Vibration Suppression (NVS) system. All three models share a common pilot type rating, common maintenance procedures, and after-sales support.

Bombardier Aerospace, a unit of Bombardier Inc., is a world leader in the design, and manufacture of innovative aviation products and services for the regional, business and amphibious aircraft markets. It also offers Bombardier Flexjet(R) fractional ownership, aircraft charter and management, technical services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training for business, regional airline and military customers.

Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company, is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled C$16.1 billion.

(R) Registered Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.

(a) Trademarks of Bombardier Inc.

Note to Editors: Images of the Bombardier Q400 aircraft are available on our web site photo gallery at: http://aero.bombardier.com/htmen/F15.htm