The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that its test pilots have completed the third flight stage of the MC-21-300 certification programme.
As an initial step, EASA experts worked with their Russian counterparts on the flight simulator. The EASA crew and Yakovlev engineering firm then performed a series of test flights on the aircraft.
Russian officials see EASA certification as a gateway for the airliner to enter the international market. “Obtaining a European certification will open up the international market for the MC-21-300,” Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, is reported to have stated as flight testing began in February 2019.
A total of 175 MC-21-300s have been ordered. A third of these have been placed by the Russian state-owned carrier Aeroflot. Other customers include Siberian, Yakutia Airlines and Bek Air. The aircraft manufacturer has also received LOI for an additional 160 aircraft.