On 11 November, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) conducted the first flight test of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).

It took off from Nagoya Airport and confirmed its basic characteristics and functionality in ascent, descent and turning during its 1.5hr flight.

Hiromichi Morimoto, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, said: “The MRJ successfully took to the sky today, thanks to on-going co-operation and support from all members involved. We will make our utmost efforts towards type certificate acquisition, committing all our resources to develop and produce the finest regional jet aircraft to enter commercial service in 2017.”

Mr Yasumura, who piloted the aircraft, said: “Operational performance of the MRJ was far better than expected. We had a significantly comfortable flight.”

Mitsubishi Aircraft and MHI will continue to conduct flight tests, with the first delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2017. The flight tests in the USA are scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2016, from the MRJ base at Grant County International Airport in Washington State.