• CS100 function and reliability (F&R) test aircraft starts flights
• F&R testing will include approximately 15 city pairs in Canada and over 20 in the U.S. before moving on to Europe
• C Series flight test vehicles have completed more than 1,000 flights and CS100 aircraft is in final stage of flight testing leading to certification

Dubai Airshow – Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that the CS100 aircraft flight test program is close to 100 per cent complete. Only a few tests remain to be completed and Bombardier is on track to have the aircraft certified this year with Transport Canada.

Bombardier also announced that function and reliability (F&R) testing on the C Series aircraft   commenced with a four-leg flight yesterday by the CS100 F&R test aircraft. The first F&R flight, which started and ended in Mirabel, Québec, included stops in Moncton, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia and St-John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The F&R test flights, which will be conducted using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures, are scheduled to include approximately 15 city pairs in Canada and 20 in the U.S, then will take place in Europe.

“The success of this historic C Series aircraft test program is a testament to the hard work and dedication from the teams that designed, developed, built and tested the C Series aircraft over the last few years,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We’re proud to be moving into the entry-in-service and production phase as we look to deliver the aircraft in the first half of 2016 to SWISS – a customer that has been with the program from the beginning. Congratulations to all involved.”

“With our flight test program almost 100 per cent complete and all the high-risk CS100 aircraft’s flight tests behind us, teams are now finalizing the last few certification activities,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President, C Series Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “Following more than 1,000 flights conducted by the C Series flight test vehicles, the F&R flights will give a really good indication of how the C Series aircraft will perform in a typical airline schedule to and from different airports in Canada and the U.S.”

“Airfield performance, landings, airport turnarounds and on-ground operations are just some of the important characteristics that will be observed during the F&R testing,” added Mr. Dewar.

Press release and picture Bombardier