Functional Check Flight Symposium
Andre Tousignant C.I.M.
Director
Air Safety Investigation Office (ASIO)
Bombardier Aerospace
Vancouver
Feb 8, 2011
Bombardier Aerospace
Discussion / Agenda
1. Bombardier Flight Operations
2. Scheduled Maintenance
3. Lease Return / Transfer of Ownership
4. Functional Check Flights Guidance
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1
Bombardier Flight Operations
Supports the following:
 Production flights tests to validate the compliance of a new
production aircraft to the type certificate
 Experimental verses production flight tests
 Specific training is required for both roles
 Customer Acceptance Flights
 Lease Return / Transfer of Ownership
 “Specific” Functional Check Flights
CS300 aircraft
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2
Scheduled Maintenance
 Functional Check Flights should only be
conducted as per the approved AMM Task
 Dash-8: Only requirement is a trim check
after an aileron replacement
 CRJ: Only requirement is an optional ADG
flight check (Task could be conducted on
ground with a back drive unit)
If Operator requires a Functional Check Flight post Maintenance,
Bombardier Recommends a Normal Flight Profile
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2
Scheduled Maintenance
 Normal Flight Profile
 A flight similar in nature to the customers operational flight
profile
 Consider Date sensitive parts
 Consider Cycle sensitive parts
CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft
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3
Lease Return / Transfer of Ownership
 Guidance on procedures acceptable for aircraft transfer / return.
 Review the contract / lease.
 Meet with the owner or their representative to discuss their
requirements
 Agree prior to the flight, what are the conditions of an acceptable
flight
 Ensure flight is flown in accordance with the AFM
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4
Functional Check Flight Guidance
 Preparation
 Conduct of Flight
 Post-Flight
Q400 NextGen aircraft
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Aircraft
 Why is a Functional Check Flight Required?
 What was the condition of the aircraft prior to maintenance?
 What areas of the aircraft were maintenance tasks carried out?
 Did maintenance have any issues carrying out the maintenance
tasks?
 What is the current condition of the Aircraft?
 What Aircraft Documents are valid for the Flight?
Conduct a Detailed Briefing with the Maintenance Team
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Flight Profile
 Do you need ground runs?
CS100 aircraft
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Ground Runs
Check for any Airport Restrictions
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Flight Profile
 Do you need ground runs?
 Consider a “High Speed Taxi”
 What is the Airport Crash Fire Response Level? (Departure and
Alternate Airport)
 Do you have two way comms with Maintenance during the flight?
Talk to The Airport Authorities
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Flight Profile
 What airspace do you require?
CRJ700 NextGen aircraft
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Airspace
Talk to Air Traffic Control - Time the Flight With Available Areas
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Airspace
Discuss Lost Comm Procedures
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Flight Profile
 What environmental conditions do you require?
CRJ900 NextGen aircraft
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
Environmental Factors to
Consider:
 VMC
 IMC
 Precipitation
 Runway Condition
 Turbulence
 Day
 Night
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
Airport Considerations:
 Minimum Weather for Take-off
 Minimum Weather for Alternate Airport
Bombardier uses a sliding scale for 1st Flights:
CYMX Weather Minimums
CYUL/CYZD Weather Minimums
Ceiling (Feet)
Vis SM
Ceiling (Feet)
Vis SM
3500
3
3500
3
3000
4
3000
4
2500
5
2500
5
2000
6
No icing conditions

No icing conditions
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Functional Check Flight - Preparation
The Flight Crew
 Based on Aircraft
condition/requirements, ATC
limitations – Create a Functional Check
Flight Profile and Check Flight Card.
 Determine who needs to be on board?
 Review Crew Qualifications / Recency
 Systems Review of all system to be
checked
 Review Emergency Procedures related
to Maintenance Completed
 Review crew actions in the event of a
system failure – Establish flight abort
criteria
Crew Must Understand the Operation of the Systems
Recommend a Crew with Strong Technical Background
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Functional Check Flight – Conduct of Flight
 Component Level Pre-Flight walk around
 A FCF walk around is not a normal walk around.
 Crew Must be looking for the proper indications when selecting
systems on/off, changing flight modes, or configuring the aircraft
 Flight should be flown as per the plan
 Points of interest should be noted by:
 FDR Event Marker - Pressed
 Log: Time of Event, Aircraft Altitude, Airspeed, & Configuration
 If crew was conducting a maneuver or configuration change, document
crew actions at the time of event
 If at anytime a system failure occurs, the continuation of the flight
should be assessed as per the defined Pre-Flight Abort Criteria
Accept No Unnecessary Risk
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Functional Check Flight – Post Flight
 Provide a detailed debrief to Maintenance
 Download the FDR for Review
 Flight is not finished until the paperwork complete
Ensure Maintenance Team Clearly
Understands Any New Flight Discrepancies
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Summary
 Functional Check Flights must never intentionally go outside AFM
limitations
 Functional Check Flights should only be flown if required by the
AMM and as per the AMM
 If a Functional Check Flight is Required, Fly a Normal Profile
 Prepare a detailed plan for the Functional Check Flight
 “Fly the Plan”
 If in doubt, land!
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