CSeries

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has resumed flight testing of CSeries aircraft following a gap of more than three months due to a major failure in the FTV1 engine.

The company conducted the flight testing of CSeries on 7 September with flight test vehicle two (FTV2) at its facility in Mirabel, Québec, Canada.

The flight comes after an in-depth review and analysis of the engine-related incident on 29 May.

Bombardier said: "Pratt and Whitney alongside Bombardier, has taken appropriate measures to address the issue, including the modification of the engine’s oil lubrication system.

Bombardier said it is on track to put the CSeries aircraft into service in the second half of 2015.

"We are pleased to see the CSeries aircraft back in the air."

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft CSeries aircraft programme vice-president Rob Dewar said: "We are pleased to see the CSeries aircraft back in the air.

"The geared turbofan (GTF) engine has over 10,000 hours of ground and flight testing and we’re confident that it will enter into service meeting or exceeding the fuel burn, emissions, thrust and noise specifications, as promised by Pratt & Whitney."

The flight test programme comprises four CSeries FTVs, which have accumulated a total of around 330 flight test hours as of June 2014.

Designed for the 100 to 149-seat, single-aisle market, the CSeries aircraft is claimed to offer a 15% operating cost advantage, a 20% fuel burn advantage.

Image: CSeries FTV2 takes flight at Mirabel, Québec. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier Inc.

Defence Technology