CS100 Function And Reliability (F&R) Test Aircraft Start Flights

The CS100 aircraft flight test program is close to 100 per cent complete, according to Bombardier. Only a few tests remain to be completed and Bombardier is on track to have the aircraft certified this year with Transport Canada.

At the Dubai Air Show, Bombardier also announced that function and reliability (F&R) testing on the C Series aircraft commenced with a four-leg flight yesterday by the CS100 F&R test aircraft. The first F&R flight, which started and ended in Mirabel, Québec, included stops in Moncton, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia and St-John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The F&R test flights, which will be conducted using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures, are scheduled to include approximately 15 city pairs in Canada and 20 in the U.S, then will take place in Europe.

“The success of this historic C Series aircraft test program is a testament to the hard work and dedication from the teams that designed, developed, built and tested the C Series aircraft over the last few years,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We’re proud to be moving into the entry-in-service and production phase as we look to deliver the aircraft in the first half of 2016 to SWISS - a customer that has been with the program from the beginning. Congratulations to all involved.”

“With our flight test program almost 100 per cent complete and all the high-risk CS100 aircraft’s flight tests behind us, teams are now finalizing the last few certification activities,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President, C Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Following more than 1,000 flights conducted by the C Series flight test vehicles, the F&R flights will give a really good indication of how the C Series aircraft will perform in a typical airline schedule to and from different airports in Canada and the U.S.”

“Airfield performance, landings, airport turnarounds and on-ground operations are just some of the important characteristics that will be observed during the F&R testing,” added Mr. Dewar.

The function and reliability (F&R) test aircraft is not a flight test vehicle, rather it was built to represent an airline-configured aircraft with various seating options and configurations. It is expected to undergo worldwide F&R testing and will be showcased in Bombardier’s house livery as it conducts the tests over the next few weeks starting in North America, followed by Europe.

(Images provided with Bombardier news)

FMI: www.bombardier.com