Mitsubishi has started MRJ90 regional jet certification flight tests early in March 2019, the company confirmed to AeroTime. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation claims the testing is providing “good results”, but declined to provide further details on individual tests.

“We have begun certification flight testing, in line with our plans to begin in early 2019,” Jeff Dronen from Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation informed AeroTime via email. “Certification flight testing will be ongoing and we will continue to coordinate with the aviation authorities”.

Previously, Japanese media reported that flight tests, supervised by the country’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), but not the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, were supposed to begin in January, but were delayed due to bad weather.  

The testing is taking place at Mitsubishi’s facility at Moses Lake (the United States). The company is believed to have four test MRJ90 aircraft at the location. FlightAware data indicates that an aircraft, registration number JA24MJ, made two flights on March 3 and 4, 2019.

The first deliveries for the launch customer All Nippon Airways are (now) expected in 2020. The MRJ has been in development since 2008 and was scheduled for first delivery in 2013.

The regional jet family include two variants: 90-seat MRJ90 and the 70-seat MRJ70.