MRJ flies again

MOSES LAKE — Mitsubishi Aircraft’s regional jetliner — the MRJ — is flying again after being grounded over a week ago following a mysterious engine failure during flight.

According to Morgan Heysse, a spokesperson for Mitsubishi Aircraft in Moses Lake, the company was “able to review and inspect the engines on FTA-4 (flight test aircraft) with the Pratt & Whitney team and determine that the aircraft was able to resume flight tests.”

Mitsubishi Aircraft has four “flight test aircraft” (FTA) in Moses Lake. According to Heysse, FTA-4 completed two flight tests on Wednesday.

On Aug. 21, FTA-2 experienced an uncontrolled shut down in one of its Pratt & Whitney PW1200G geared turbofan engine while flying near Portland, Ore. The engine has a complex gearing system that allows it to use fuel more efficiently.

According to Mitsubishi, the plane landed in Portland without incident. The engine was replaced, and the plane flew back to Moses Lake.

“We are still in the process of determining the exact cause of the malfunction in the engine on FTA-2,” Heysse said. “We will reinspect the other engines in our flight test fleet and phase them into resumed testing once appropriate measures are implemented.”

Heysse said all new measures to ensure the safe continuance of the testing program would have to be approved by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau.

Mitsubishi Aircraft established a flight test center in Moses Lake about two years ago, and has been testing four aircraft — including a model set to be delivered to All-Nippon Airways — intensively since they began arriving late last year.

However, the program, which is producing Japan’s first commercial airliner in 50 years has been plagued by delays. First deliveries of the MRJ were expected in 2018, but have been pushed back to 2020.