Chinese airframer Comac has completed high temperature and high humidity flight tests on its ARJ21 regional jet, verifying the effectiveness of the aircraft's cabin air management and hydraulic systems.
Since 15 July, Aircraft 103 has undergone flight and ground tests necessary for the certification of the jet's air management and hydraulic systems. The tests were done at a lowest temperature of 37.7°C and highest temperature of 40.3°C.
"The functional characteristics of the ARJ21 air-conditioning sytem, pneumatic system and hydraulic system under the conditions of high temperature and high humidity were comprehensively verified," Comac says.
Sources have said that the ARJ21 is unlikely to receive certification until at least late next year. At Airshow China in Zhuhai last year, chief designer Chen Yong had said that the aim was for the ARJ21 to receive certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in the first half of 2013 and deliver the jet to launch customer Chengdu Airlines in 2014.
The ARJ21, a project that was started around 11 years ago, was initially scheduled for delivery in 2007. The deadline has been pushed back several times as engineers encountered problems in the development as well as certification processes.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
