Bombardier has powered on all of the systems, including a new flightdeck, on the first production Learjet 75 super-light business jet.

Entry into service for the Learjet 75, which adds higher-thrust Honeywell TFE731-40BR engines and a Garmin-based Vision flightdeck to the Learjet 45XR, is still on track for 2013, Bombardier says.

The power-on test took place during the week of 21 August and is the latest step on the path to airworthiness certification. The first Learjet 75 involved in the test "will play a pivotal role" in a certification programme, Bombardier adds.

Bomabrdier revealed the Learjet 70/75 programme in May, but the airframer had started flight tests using a converted Learjet 40 and a Learjet 45 aircraft cabin. Each aircraft was separately fitted with the new flightdeck and the new engines.

But the newly activated Learjet 75 is the first to combine the new flightdeck, engine and other cabin upgrades on the same airframe.

The new flightdeck requires "major changes to the aircraft's wiring harness", Bombardier adds.

Source: Flight International