Behind The Scenes: Inside The Test Airbus A220-300

Inside the test program for the Airbus A220-300, Airbus opened access to a modified first-flight aircraft to show how data is collected before passenger service. The article describes how test vehicles differ from production aircraft because they are heavily instrumented for research rather than carrying passengers. It says the specific aircraft, registration C-FFDK, was the first Airbus A220-300 to fly, though its first flight occurred under the Bombardier CS-300 designation. According to ch-aviation data, that first flight took place from Montreal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX) on February 27, 2015. The piece also notes that the Bombardier C-Series was renamed to the Airbus A220 family in July 2018, while registration data shows ownership changed from Bombardier to Airbus Canada on June 23, 2016. During a tour in Canada, Simple Flying reports that orange external “appendages” visible on the ramp were testing equipment, and it points to non-production doors resembling where cargo doors typically sit. Further details follow about the cabin and additional sensors.