The new Beijing Daxing International airport is on-track to open on 30 September, with the first flight navigation verification flights getting underway on 22 January.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China says that a specially-configured Cessna Citation made the first landing on one of the airport’s western runways, kicking off a test campaign that will run until 15 March.
The flights will calibrate and validate Daxing’s navigation aids, instrument landing systems and air traffic control procedures across its four runways, ahead of their formal commissioning.
Verification of the various aeronautical systems and procedures is part of the testing prior to the airport being handed over to its operator, which is planned for 30 June.
It will the undergo operational and readiness testing, ahead of its scheduled opening on 30 September.
Daxing is expected to help relieve congestion at Beijing Capital airport and open up a new hub airport for the Chinese capital city.
China Eastern and China Southern Airlines have both committed to building up major hub operations at Daxing, supporting their traditional home bases at Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou airports.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
