The COMAC ARJ21, a regional jet based on a design of McDonnell Douglas successfully completed a crosswind testing at Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport.

The news were announced on May 1, 2018 by AJW, a company which coordinated the logistics, flight plan approvals, test flight assessments and spares and maintenance support throughout the tests.

The five-week testing programme, which involved a delegation of more than 100 engineers, meteorologists, pilots and support staff travelling to Iceland from China to carry out the tests.

Keflavik International Airport is the location of choice for major aircraft manufacturers to conduct crosswind testing due to the angle of the runway and the high winds in the region.

“These tests mark an exciting milestone in the development of the ARJ21 and a huge strategic breakthrough for COMAC,” said Zhao Yuerang, President of COMAC.

COMAC’s ARJ21 aircraft has been flying since June 2016 and the completion of crosswind testing. These tests will now enable COMAC to broaden the operating parameters of the aircraft. There are 453 orders of ARJ21 placed to date.