The trial flight of the Jingzhou Airport was wrapped up with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operatedby Southern Airlines landing smoothly at round 11:30 a.m. October 20. This is the "maiden flight" of a passenger aircraft at the new airport after an18-year suspension of air service in Jingzhou, meaning that the airport'sairfield area has basically met the requirements for passenger aircraft operation.
Organized by the CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration and the CAAC Hubei Administration, the Jingzhou Airport saw the first take-off and landing of a Boeing aircraft 18 years later. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft that took off inWuhan arrived at the airport at 7:12 a.m. October 20. After finishing preparations prior to the trial flight, the aircraft circled over Jingzhou for more than 3 hours and then landed smoothly at the airport to wrap up its trial operation.The welcoming crowd with flowers in hands surged forward. The 5 crew members walked down the ramp and received flowers from Sun Yuqiu, Vice Mayor of the Jingzhou Municipal People's Government.
The 10-subject trialflight, including flight procedure validation, validates and evaluates theusability and operability of the airport's flight procedures and the minimum standards of airport operation, and tests the operation conditions of the airport's communication, navigation, monitoring and airfield lighting facilities and equipment, to prove the airport's comprehensive support capacity such as air traffic control, navigational intelligence, ground service and emergency respond.
The trial operationis an important link from airport construction to airport operation. Supported by the airport, an aircraft designated by a civil airline takes off and landsat the airport, to test its flight procedures, support capacity and navigational conditions. As an important precondition for flight procedure approval and industrial acceptance, it is of great significance to the start of airport operation.
The success of the trial flight laid a solid foundation for the start of the airport's upcoming operation. The airport is preparing for industrial acceptance, aviation market development and airport use permit application, so as to go into operation as early as possible.
After going into operation, the new airport can accommodate B737-800, A320 and other lower-class aircrafts. Boeing 737-800 is a twin-turbofan medium & short-haulnarrow-body aircraft that seats 162-189 passengers. The airport plans to launch routes leading to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou,Sanya and other cities. After being open to traffic, the airport will benefit nearly 30 million people in Jianghan Plain and Dongtinghu Plain.