The Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines today, December 26, began a 100-hour test flight of its first C919 aircraft to test and confirm the safety of operation of the aircraft, and thereby pave the way for its commercial debut next spring.
After the completion of the C919 test flight, the airline will apply to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for technical specifications to obtain final permission for commercial operation of the aircraft.
China’s first domestic passenger aircraft, the C919, manufactured by the China Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC), was handed over to China Eastern Airlines at a ceremony at Shanghai Airport on December 9.
The airline expects to receive the remaining four aircraft ordered from COMAC within the next two years.
China Eastern Airlines has established the C919 flight department, which includes 24 experienced pilots as the first group of C919 pilots.
