The future of Bombardier Aerospace’s airline business might well hinge on what becomes of the final product that emerges from last month’s official ground breaking of a new complex in Mirabel, Canada, dedicated to the C Series airliner. The ceremony, held on September 15 and attended by some 200 company employees, government dignitaries, labor representatives and media, formally launched work on the first of five phases of construction known as the complete integrated aircraft systems test area (Ciasta)–a testing and proving facility that will house a “virtual” C Series test aircraft designed to assess systems for reliability and functionality a full year before the first prototype flies.
Once complete, Mirabel’s Ciasta will house the C Series integrated systems test and certification rig (ISTCR), or so-called “iron bird.” Meant to facilitate early product maturity, the iron bird will test flight-control systems, avionics, electrical and environmental controls. Other test articles planned for the building include an interiors rig, a systems integration test stand and engineering simulator and flight controls integration lab.
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