ARJ21-700 Gets Special Flight Permit for Production Flight Testing

The CAAC East China Regional Administration has issued a special flight permit for a COMAC ARJ21-700, serial number 106, the first one to be delivered to a customer, to conduct production flight testing, according to a statement released Tuesday on the regional administration's website.

The ARJ21-700 has started its production flight testing, marking the design of the single aircraft type frozen and verified by the authorities, and entering the technical inspection stage of the aircraft manufacturer before its delivery to customers.

If everything goes smoothly, the aircraft will officially take to the skies after its delivery and obtaining operation certificate.

The ARJ21-700 has recently received its official registration number, B-3321, and is scheduled to be delivered to Chengdu Airlines (EU) on Saturday.

The ARJ21-700's first commercial flight may be on the Chengdu to Shanghai or Beijing route in February 2016, according to an early report.

COMAC has secured 315 orders for the ARJ21-700 from 19 customers at home and abroad.