Comac has completed the minimum unstick speed tests for its ARJ21 regional jet programme.
Nine such tests have been successfully completed since they began on 24 April, says the Chinese airframer.
Both the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the US Federal Aviation Administration were present at Xian Yanliang airport for the tests.
The minimum unstick speed validation tests measure the minimum speed at which an aircraft can lift off the ground and continue to take off. Once determined, the speed will be recorded in the aircraft's manual so that pilots will know the minimum take-off speed required to avoid a tail strike.
The minimum unstick speed test is one of the highest risk and most difficult tests the aircraft has undergone since the stall tests, say Comac.
Comac said at Airshow China in Zhuhai last year that it is targeting to receive certification from the CAAC for the ARJ21 in the first half of 2013. This schedule, however, is widely expected to be delayed.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
