Page 36 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

F
tu
ea
FeatuRe MRJ
e
MRJ
R

Waiting to Make a Mark

Mitsubishi’s MRJ regional jet has had a difficult gestation, and now needs to build
momentum to meet the promised delivery date of 2018 for launch customer ANA
By Atul Chandra

the MitsuBishi ReGionaL Jet (MRJ) is Flight Testing systems, left and right, installed in the
a next-generation regional transport aircraft Acceleration of developmental testing aircraft. The malfunction was detected in
(RTA) that is targeted at the 70-90 seater is of vital importance for completion of sensors monitoring the air management
market for a jet engine powered RTA. The certification related tasks and have the systems on the left side. Once these issues
Japanese effort to design and develop the MRJ ready for delivery to launch customer are resolved, the MRJ is expected to make
MRJ is being handled by Mitsubishi Aircraft All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 2018. Issues the flight to the Moses Lake Flight Test
Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries related to the MRJ’s air management Center. Mitsubishi Aircraft, MHI and Aero
(MHI). The MRJs makers are aiming at a market systems in August, have resulted in the TEC had conducted a “dry-run” from mid-
size for 70-90-seat regional transport that postponement of the long-ferry to the U.S., May to mid-June to simulate flight testing
could be as high as 3,500 aircraft over the where Mitsubishi Aircraft and MHI planned and actual flights using a small aircraft were
next 20 years. In many ways the MRJ effort is to commence flight testing at the Moses conducted in a rehearsal of all operations
similar to that of Bombardier’s C Series, a clean Lake Flight Test Center in Washington State, from preparation to takeoff and landing,
sheet design packed with the latest advances with local partner AeroTEC. According including implementation of the test
in design and material technology, with a to Mitsubishi Aircraft the result of the mission with data acquisition.
revolutionary engine and an all-new cabin. Such cancellation of flights was an issue with the
an effort, though fraught with risks and with monitoring function of the air management Design and Development
strong potential for cost- overruns, was the system that needed to be inspected during More than 50 flight tests with the First &
only way that Japan’s considerable aerospace the flight. “We will work with related parties Second Flight Test Aircraft (FTA-1 & 2), have
might, could be harnessed to develop a to promptly move forward with the ferry been completed by the MRJ programme
highly efficient aircraft offering a compelling flight, after completing the inspection and in July. The flight envelope of FTA-1 has
enough operating efficiency advantage over necessary measures. We will decide the been expanded to the extent of design
aircraft from established competitors such as date to resume the ferry flight based on specifications (maximum operating Mach
Bombardier and Embraer. Eight years have now the results of inspection,” the airframer number of Mach 0.78, maximum operating
passed since the MRJ’s maiden flight in 2008 announced. Earlier flights that took place altitude of 39,000 ft., about 11,900m). FTA-
and the development timeframe has crossed on August 27 and 28 were aborted due 2 is being used to mainly carry out MRJ
Mitsubishi’s initial estimates. to anomalies in the two air management performance flight testing. Flutter testing

36
36 A SIAN AIRLINES & AEROSP A A CE SEPTEMBER/OC T T OBER 2016 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/AAA
CE
WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA
SIAN AIRLINES & AEROSP
A
36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016OBER 2016
SEPTEMBER / OC