Comac has started avionics flight tests for its ARJ21-700 programme.
Aircraft 102 departed from Xian Yanliang airport and landed at Yinchuan's Hedong International airport for the tests on 15 October, says the Chinese airframer.
During this period, the aircraft’s automatic direction finder, instrument landing system, marker beacon indicator and VHF omnidirectional radio range navigation system will undergo tests to ensure that they meet certification standards. Aircraft 103 will also subsequently be deployed to Hedong airport for the tests.
The Chinese-made regional jet also recently met noise certification requirements, says Comac. It adds that the aircraft noise tests were directly certificated by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and has "great significance" for the ARJ21 moving forward in its airworthiness certification process.
At the Aviation Expo in Beijing last month, Comac said it was targeting to get the ARJ21 certified next year, and thereafter deliver the aircraft to launch customer Chengdu Airlines by the end of 2014.
Sources say there are no “major issues” with the development of the jet, and that representatives from the US FAA, which is conducting a shadow certification process alongside that of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, will fly on the ARJ21 during tests in the coming months.
Comac has received 252 commitments to date for the ARJ21, mostly from Chinese airlines and leasing companies.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
