Bombardier has completed the functional and reliability (FNR) phase of certification test flights on the CS100 aircraft with no technology-driven flight delays, a top executive says.
Completing the 150-flight hour FNR phase means the type certification effort moves into the documentation and review stage.
The FNR phase requires Bombardier to mimic routine airline operations, with the CS100 assigned to fly into dozens of airports, said Bombardier Commercial Airplanes president Fred Cromer, speaking to market analysts at an Investor Day event.
The structure of the FNR phase means Bombardier can have an early glimpse into how the aircraft’s reliability holds up during a simulation of routine operations, Cromer says.
The CS100 appeared to pass the test with flying colours.
“We achieved 100% dispatch reliability,” he says.
Bombardier plans to obtain type certification for the CS100 from Transport Canada by end-year, followed by entry into service in the first half of next year with Swiss International Air Lines.
“We need to be flawless as we enter into service next year with Swiss,” Cromer says.
To establish Bombardier’s credibility, one of Cromer’s slides during Investor Day showed a list of 32 aircraft that the company had ushered into service since 1986.
The list included the company’s best-sellers, such as the CRJ100/200 regional jets and the Global 5000 business jet.
But it also included three programmes that have not entered service, including the recently cancelled Learjet 85 business jet and the Global 7000 and 8000 jets that are still in development.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
