Japan has granted Mitsubishi Aircraft approval to carry out design inspections normally undertaken by the government, which will help expedite the progress of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet.

"Even though the detailed design is fixed, additional changes of design will occur while we will be actually manufacturing and conducting various tests for the actual flying parts," says a Mitsubishi spokeswoman.

"By newly acquiring the authorization for "Making of Design Documents and Finding Compliance with Applicable Standards", Mitsubishi Aircraft will be able to inspect certain aspects of design changes instead of [going through] the government. That will reduce the procedures in the course of development."

The approval was awarded by the ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.

Mitsubishi will soon start producing sub-assemblies for the flight test aircraft.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news