CSeries flies through test milestones

摘要

Flight testing for the Bombardier CSeries programme is now focused on qualifying the autopilot and flight management system and validating the aircraft's promised runway performance. The 110-seat CS100 has completed about 70% of certification activity 18 months after first flight, says Bombardier vice-president and general manager Rob Dewar. Six aircraft in the test fleet -including the first 135-seat CS300 - have accumulated l,600h in 1.5 years, he says, with the latter having racked up almost 100h in the two months since its maiden sortie. So far, prototype FTV-4 has validated Bombardier's promised cruise performance - including a 15% reduction in specific fuel consumption and nearly 3,000nm (5,550km) range. Meanwhile, FTV-1 and FTV-2 have been focused on extreme weather and operating tests, with the latter having cleared natural icing tests and made high-altitude take-offs and landings in Colorado. The aircraft dedicated to systems testing - FTV-3 - began evaluating the fly-by-wire system in normal law last October. Trials of the autopilot and flight management system are continuing and are "progressing well", Dewar says.