BOMBARDIER PLANS to resume flight testing with the third Global Express long-range business jet in July, after repairs following an inadvertent wheels-up landing. The company blames "pilot error" for the incident, which occurred on 25 April, three days after the aircraft's first flight.
No delay in certification or first deliveries is expected, says Bombardier. The Global Express involved, aircraft 9003, is assigned to avionics testing, which will continue in Honeywell's ground rig, and in the first two flight-test aircraft, until 9003 can be flown again.
The belly landing, at de Havilland's plant in Downsview, Toronto, Canada, came at the end of the fourth flight that day "-when the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear," says Bombardier.
After inspection, the aircraft was raised, its landing-gear lowered and it was towed into the hangar. Damage is "minimal", the company says, mainly affecting the wing-fuselage fairing.
The only known photograph of the incident, taken by a freelance aerial photographer and showing the aircraft resting on its belly, was bought by Bombardier to prevent it falling into the hands of rival manufacturer Gulfstream.
Source: Flight International
