BRINGING EFFICIENCY to flight testing

To meet its goal of one new aircraft activity each year, Bombardier's Flight Test Center has sought to reduce aircraft development cycle time by focusing on test planning, safety, and configuration control.

In 1991, shortly after acquiring Learjet, Bombardier consolidated all new aircraft night testing at its Wichita, KS, facility. Since then, nine new aircraft have been certified, and the Bombardier Flight Test Center (BFTC) has grown from 20 dedicated flight test personnel to nearly 500.

The Canadian-based company, in conjunction with several international risk-sharing partners, has created a highly dynamic flight test environment, tasking the BFTC with bringing a new product to market each year. This rapid expansion of capabilities was undertaken to support three aircraft product lines: Learjet, Canadair, and DeHavilland. New hangers, telemetry, and ground support facilities were built to accommodate the increased flight test demands.