Bombardier’s new CSeries jetliner certified airworthy

Canadian transportation authorities on Friday certified Bombardier’s new CSeries jetliner airworthy, paving the way to bring the first new medium-range passenger jet in 25 years to market.

“The certification of Bombardier’s CSeries is a historic moment for the Canadian aerospace industry,” commented Transportation Minister and former astronaut Marc Garneau.

“Bombardier can now take important final steps to deliver the CSeries to customers worldwide, such as seeking international approvals and training crews,” he said.

The first medium-haul, singleaisle CSeries aircraft with seating for up to 160 passengers is expected to be delivered to Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss in the middle of 2016.

The plane was designed to go head to head with the workhorses of the aviation market, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

The certification process included more than 3,000 hours of flight tests, and demonstrated that the socalled whisper jets’ Pratt and Whitney engines are “the quietest in its category,” Bombardier said in a statement. (AFP)