Aircraft

Bombardier has pushed back its entry-into-service calendar for the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010.

The Canadian airframer says, however, that certification of the 100-seat aircraft, the largest version of its CRJ, remains on schedule for the fourth quarter of 2009. "We are encouraged and very enthusiastic as the CRJ1000 prototype undergoes its flight testing," says Bombardier. "It's not uncommon to make timing adjustments as we work through the complexities of a new aircraft programme."

An unnamed source with knowledge of the situation did confirm that any slippage will be minor and that service entry is likely to be early in the new calendar year.

In early September Bombardier's prototype CRJ1000 made its inaugural flight from the airframer's Mirabel, Quebec site. Next year the prototype CRJ1000 will be joined by the first production CRJ1000 at Bombardier's flight test centre in Wichita, Kansas in preparation for service entry and review by the flight operations evaluation board.

Bombardier has secured four customers for the CRJ1000 - Adria Airways, Brit Air, Myair and an undisclosed airline. By 31 July, the company had listed orders for 39 CRJ1000s. However, Brit Air last month converted six additional options, bringing total announced orders for the type to 45.