At 7:30 a.m. on May 8, a white C919 aircraft took off from the runway of Shanghai Pudong International Airport to start its new day's journey with a roar from Runway 5. Soon, the plane flew over the mouth of the Yangtze River, and after a short climb, smoothly entered the airspace of the East China Sea and began a new round of verification flights.
The C919 passenger plane, dressed in the standard livery of China Eastern Airlines and with provisional registration number B-002E, was not an ordinary commercial flight, but to verify flight performance and system stability in preparation for the imminent delivery of China Eastern Airlines. The C919, soaring over the East China Sea, demonstrated its good performance and stable flight characteristics.
According to the regulations of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, all passenger aircraft are subjected to 100 hours of complex and rigorous flight testing and verification activities before they are officially handed over to the user. Once approved and "three certificates" are obtained, the aircraft can be put into service. To ensure that every C919 has a high level of reliability and maturity from the moment it enters service, COMAC has implemented the most rigorous and comprehensive aircraft testing program in the global civil aviation industry.
In addition to the various tests, each new C919 aircraft usually undergoes a route validation trip. Through the collaboration of multiple test teams, the C919 will fly to 14 major airports, including Chengdu, Dunhuang, Lanzhou, Xi'an, Kunming, Chongqing, Haikou, Beijing, Dongying, Wuhan, Xiamen, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou and Changsha, in different geographical and climatic conditions.
This journey is not only a comprehensive test of the aircraft's performance, but also an opportunity for future operators to familiarize themselves with operational processes under real-world service conditions. For airport operators, this not only familiarizes them with ground handling operations, including aircraft docking, loading and unloading cargo, and passenger boarding, but also provides valuable experience in docking with new passenger aircraft and lays a solid foundation for future operations.
Another important aspect of the C919 airliner testing is the long-haul flight (ELF) program. In this program, the C919 aircraft is equipped with a full cabin service facility and carries "passengers" composed of COMAC and airline employees, and flies according to a real commercial operation model. Such tests will comprehensively evaluate the actual performance of the aircraft's cabin systems, seat comfort, in-flight entertainment, parametric services, and other service processes to ensure that the aircraft is able to provide a high-quality experience for passengers during the flight.
In addition, the test activities include an assessment of the aircraft's performance targets in terms of fuel burn and range. Comprehensive testing involving the aircraft's integrated propulsion system, thrust reverser, fuel efficiency, and other related systems. Through these tests, engineers can verify the aircraft's fuel economy and range capability under extreme flight conditions, ensuring that the C919 will meet the expected performance standards in a variety of operating environments.
The ELF program is not only a key component of the C919 airliner testing, but also an important step in ensuring that the aircraft can meet the International Air Transport Standards (ETOPS). ETOPS is a set of regulations that define the maximum distance an aircraft can fly in a single flight, as well as the maximum distance it can fly in the event of an engine failure. In order for the C919 to enter the international market, it must meet these requirements, and the ELF program is designed to validate and prove that the C919 has such capabilities.
When all the tests are completed and the delivery process begins, there are several things that need to be performed, including ground inspections: exterior surfaces and paint, cabin and cabin visual inspections, static aircraft systems and cockpit inspections, engine testing, etc.; Acceptance flight: check the aircraft response in all systems and the entire flight envelope; Physical rework or provide solutions: If necessary, address any outstanding technical or quality issues.
Once all the above steps have been completed, the regulatory body signs a stand-alone airworthiness certificate certifying that the aircraft is qualified, as well as some relevant technical specifications, and at the same time allows the issuance of a radio use certificate and a certificate of registration of aircraft nationality. The final step is to transfer ownership of the aircraft to the customer, and of course there is one thing that is not on the delivery process – a group photo!