Aircraft

Bombardier's first production CRJ1000 NextGen is undergoing final interior installations at the company's Mirabel, Quebec, facility.

Aircraft 19001 will shortly join Bombardier's CRJ1000 prototype to prepare for review by the flight operations evaluation board and entry into service, according to director of CRJ programmes Jean-Guy Blodin.

The airframer has been flight testing the prototype at its Wichita flight test centre since September 2008. The testbed aircraft has logged almost 400 hours and is "over 50% done" with flight testing, says new commercial aircraft programme director Ben Boehm, who adds that the testbed is now undergoing its icing tests.

© Bombardier

The CRJ1000 NexGen is scheduled for certification in the fourth quarter of 2009, with an entry-into-service in the first quarter of 2010.

Bombardier has secured 45 orders for the 100-seat regional jet. Launch customers include Slovenia's Adria Airways, Air France subsidiary Brit Air, Italian low-fare carrier MyAir and a fourth, undisclosed airline.