Bombardier’s CSeries regional jet prototype returned to the air on 7th September after a 100-day grounding, with test aircraft FTV-2 taking off from the company’s facility at Mirabel airport in Québec.
The flight began at 18:10 and landed before sunset after approximately 30 minutes in the air.
“We are pleased to see the CSeries aircraft back in the air,” said Rob Dewar, Bombardier’s vice-president leading the CSeries programme.
None of the four aircraft in the CSeries flight test fleet have flown since 29th May, when a low-pressure turbine stage failed in one of the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines installed on FTV-1 during a ground test.
P&W traced the failure to a flaw in the engine’s main oil lubrication system. The oil system dedicated to the engine’s unique gear-driven fan system was not at fault, according to Bombardier and P&W.
About six weeks after the grounding began, P&W first proposed a series of modifications to Bombardier, but the two parties negotiated for several weeks on the final design.
Details of the modifications have not been disclosed. Bombardier did state, however, that the changes will have no impact on the fuel burn, noise and thrust goals for the engine.
Despite the 100-day hiatus, Bombardier also expects no change to the CSeries test programme’s overall schedule. First delivery of the 110-seat CS100 remains set for the second half of 2015, a window that opens in nine months. According to Dewar, the first delivery of the CS300 should follow about six months later.
Return to flight of FTV-2 will be followed shortly by FTV-4, Dewar said. FTV-1 is in the final stages of repairs for the damages sustained in the 29th May test incident, including punctures of the aircraft’s carbon fibre wing. It will return to flight after FTV-4. Return to flight of FTV-3 will happen during the “fall” season, Dewar said.
FTV-5, the first test aircraft with a completed interior, remains in final assembly. Bombardier expects to complete the first flight of FTV-5 by the end of the year.