Aircraft

Boeing has carried out the maiden flight of its latest 737 variant, the extended range -900ER.

The aircraft took off from Renton Municipal airport in the US state of Washington on 1 September and landed 1h45min later at Boeing Field in Seattle.

The flight marks the beginning of a five-month test programme to obtain US Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the 737-900ER by early 2007.

“It was a near flawless flight,” says Boeing test pilot Ray Craig.

During the flight, tests were carried out on the aircraft’s airworthiness, aerodynamic performance, stability and cruise performance. Flight controls, the autopilot, pressurisation, avionics, air conditioning systems and the flight management computer were also tested.

Two aircraft will be used for the flight test programme, accruing a combined total of 235h of flight testing and 210h of static ground testing.

Both test aircraft will be delivered next year to Lion Air, launch customer for the 737-900ER.