The Boeing 757-300 has been awarded its US Federal Aviation Administration type certificate, production certificate, 180 min extended range twin operations (ETOPS) approval and European Joint Aviation Authorities validation.
The flurry of clearances for the Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4B-powered version of the aircraft follows a five and a half month flight test programme - the shortest period for any Boeing derivative since the 737-400 in 1988. The three test aircraft amassed 1,286h of ground tests and 912 flight test hours over 356 sorties which began with the first flight on 2 August 1998.
The 757-300 is also the first Boeing model to be cleared by the FAA using a new certification method called the Project-Specific Certification Plan. This was a formal agreement signed by the FAA and Boeing under which both parties worked to a common schedule and to a pre-set series of milestones. "It captured a working agreement we could use to hold to our schedule and meet the FAA's requirements," says 757-300 certification manager, Randal Corman.
Although the JAA did not sign the agreement, it shared a similarly close watching brief on the certification process through a co-signed Procedure Information Document. "The programme went well because of the way the teams worked together," says JAA 757-300 project certification manager, David Clement. The new FAA process hinges on the setting up of 24 milestones and associated status meetings.
The first aircraft is due for delivery to launch customer, German charter airline Condor, on 5 March. Six -300s will join the fleet in 1999 and the final six in 2000. One aircraft is testing the R-R's advanced Phase V combustor for forthcoming application in the RB211-535E4B. This will replace the standard Phase II combustor.
Source: Flight International
