Bombardier CS100 Aircraft Flight Test Program Close To Complete

(RTTNews) - Plane and train maker Bombardier Inc. (BBD_B.TO, BBD_A.TO) announced that Bombardier CS100 aircraft flight test program close to 100 per cent complete. The company specified that 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.

Bombardier also announced that CS100 function and reliability (F&R) test aircraft began with a four-leg flight yesterday. The company stated that The first F&R flight, which started and ended in Mirabel, Quebec, 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.

Separately, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft confirmed that Riga, Latvia-based Air Baltic Corporation AS will be the first customer to operate the CS300 aircraft when it takes delivery in the second half of 2016. The Latvian flag carrier has 13 CS300 aircraft on firm order and retains options for seven CS300 aircraft.