The Bombardier CSeries CS100 has started a month-long route-proving campaign in Europe, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced Monday. The program uses a dedicated CS100 route-proving aircraft operated by Bombardier from the Zurich based of launch operator Swiss International Air Lines. Plans call for the route-proving exercises to include main European cities such a Brussels, Vienna and Warsaw. Bombardier plans to deliver the first production CS100 to Swiss in the second quarter.

“As the launch customer and the first airline that will operate the CS100 aircraft, the European route- proving program is very important to us and will provide a real indication of how the aircraft will operate in our network when we take delivery of our first CS100 aircraft in the next few months,” said Swiss International Airlines chief technical officer Peter Wojahn.

The CS100 will conduct route-proving flights using typical airline flight routings and operational procedures, said Bombardier, giving a clear indication of how the C Series aircraft will perform in a typical airline schedule to and from different airports. Airfield performance, landings, airport turnarounds and on-ground operations represent some of what Bombardier calls important characteristics it plans to observe.

The European route-proving program follows one conducted last year across North America that included more than 35 cities.

Separately, Bombardier confirmed that the last of eight flight test vehicles--the second CS300 aircraft--entered the flight test program in Mirabel, Québec last week.

“March is turning out to be a very productive month for the C Series aircraft program,” said CSeries program head Rob Dewar. “In addition to the next phase of route-proving, last week we celebrated the first flight of the eighth and final flight test vehicle. It's only the second CS300 flight test vehicle in the program and one that is equipped with a full production interior. We’re delighted that its test program, which is dedicated to cabin and interior certification, is off to a great start and progressing extremely well.”