Mitsubishi Regional Jet takes first trip to the sky

MOSES LAKE — Earlier this week, a collection of Port of Moses Lake employees watched a live video stream of the first test flight of Mitsubishi’s first regional jet, for which Moses Lake is set to be the testing location.

Four of the 90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJ-90) are expected to arrive in Moses Lake in the second quarter of 2016 for testing, as early as March or April, according to a Mitsubishi release. That agreement could turn into several more years of flight testing for three models of the MRJ.

According to a release from Japan-headquartered Mitsubishi, the piloted MRJ took off from Nagoya Airport in Nagoya, Japan, for a one-and-a-half-hour flight Nov. 11.

“The MRJ successfully took to the sky today thanks to ongoing cooperation and support from all members involved,” Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation President Hiromichi Morimoto said, via the release. “We will make our utmost efforts towards type certificate acquisition, committing all our resources to develop and produce the finest regional jet aircraft to enter commercial service in 2017.”

The plane’s captain (identified in the release as Pilot Yasumura) for the test flight reported operational performance of the MRJ was “far better than expected” and the crew enjoyed a “significantly comfortable flight.”

The program in Moses Lake is already well underway, as Seattle-based AeroTEC (Aerospace Testing Engineering & Certification) LLC has nearly completed the construction of a $9 million, 65,000-square-foot hangar on leased port property. The hangar will house Mitsubishi’s regional jets while they are being flight-tested in Moses Lake.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation also opened a new engineering center, the Seattle Engineering Center (SEC), in early August. The SEC will work with AeroTEC to “accelerate the MRJ’s conformity activities and provide prompt support for flight tests” at Grant County International Airport, according to a previous Mitsubishi release.

And, thanks to the recent and timely announcement of SeaPort Airlines’ expansion to add service between Moses Lake and Seattle, workers at Mitsubishi’s Seattle Engineering Center will have faster transportation options to and from Grant County. SeaPort’s service in Moses Lake will include daily flights to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), with flights starting at less than $60.

The announcement is especially timely, as SeaPort is slated to begin its service at Grant County International Airport March 1, right in the time frame of the MRJ’s anticipated arrival.

Richard Hanover, director of business development for the Port of Moses Lake, previously said SeaPort’s commercial service offerings between Moses Lake and Seattle have great potential to benefit SEC workers, as the flight is expected to take about one hour. Hanover and Port executive director Jeff Bishop could not be reached before press time for comment.

The relationship between Moses Lake and Mitsubishi for flight testing starting next spring is, historically speaking, a natural fit. Moses Lake hosted Japan Airlines for some 40 years while the airline trained pilots in Grant County. A cluster of Japan-based companies also currently have operational facilities in Moses Lake.

The lack of air traffic in Grant County makes it a prime location for flight testing, for which it has a storied history of hosting numerous airlines and aerospace companies.

Mitsubishi has received 223 firm orders for its new regional jet, according to a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal.