Mitsubishi Aircraft will hold a press briefing on 10 April, which could see it announce yet another delay to its MRJ regional jet programme.
A Nikkei report says static strength tests on the MRJ airframe “have not proceeded as planned”, resulting in the need to push back the regional jet's first flight by a quarter to the third quarter of 2015.
The report adds that the broader project remains on track, and that the first aircraft is still scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2017.
Mitsubishi declines to comment, adding that an announcement will be made on 10 April.
On 7 April the Japanese airframer sent out a media invitation to an MRJ programme update and a tour of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries final assembly plant. The press conference will commence at 13:00 local time.
In January, Mitsubishi released pictures of its flight test fleet in various stages of final assembly. It also disclosed that it has started full-scale tests, and has performed a first engine run on aircraft 10001. Its static strength test aircraft (MSN90001) has also undergone a wing up-bending test.
Mitsubishi last announced a programme delay in August 2013. Then, it pushed its first flight from the third quarter of 2013 to the second quarter of 2015, and its first delivery from the summer of 2015 to the second quarter of 2017.
Last month the airframer also announced a series of high level management changes, including the retirement of its chairman and president.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
