The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) said its ARJ21 flight-test program has passed the 500-hour mark. Four General Electric CF34-10A-powered ARJ21-700 aircraft are participating in the test program. GE has provided engine spares to Comac, in addition to carrying out its own ground testing involving three engines totaling 750 hours of testing.

The turbofan engine’s certification is almost complete and GE expects to receive FAR Part 33 certification by September. The 18,500-pound-thrust CF34-10A will receive subsequent CAR 25 certification in China, and GE is scheduled to deliver the first production engines in the fourth quarter.