The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) ARJ21-700 regional jet programme has entered into the icing test stage.
As part of its first nacelle anti-ice test, Aircraft 104 departed from Xi'an Yanliang airport on 25 February for Hafei airport. The three-hour flight went smoothly, Comac said in a statement.
The test, conducted at temperatures of between -1°C and -9°C, is critical to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft. The main purpose is to check that the aircraft can operate safely when it rains or snows.
After a pre-test and a full test, the aircraft and its engines were found to be in good working condition, said Comac.
The tests came shortly after the aircraft was issued its type inspection authorisation, which means that it can enter into the Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) certification flight test phase.
Launch customer Chengdu Airlines was originally set to receive its first aircraft by the end of 2011, but this has been delayed by up to a year because of the ongoing delays in the certification process.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
