Russian airliners MC-21, SJ-100, and Il-114 have successfully completed the stage of certification tests in natural icing conditions. The flights took place in the White Sea, over the Kola Peninsula, and in the Naryan-Mar area, departing from Arkhangelsk's Talagi Airport between March 12 and 30.
The natural environment itself was the main tool for the tests: the crews searched for cloud layers with temperatures from zero to minus 20 degrees Celsius and high humidity — these conditions are what cause ice to form on structures. Specialized equipment was used on board to monitor icing: ice thickness sensors, video cameras with illumination, thermometers, and liquid water content meters. These devices allowed real-time recording of how and where ice forms, and assessment of the aircraft's systems' reaction.
Each flight lasted from four to seven hours. After gaining altitude, the pilots entered the zone with the specified meteorological parameters, maintained the modes necessary for icing, and then checked the stability, controllability, and operation of the anti-icing systems at different stages of the flight. On the SJ-100, approaches to landing with go-arounds were additionally practiced, and the stall warning system was tested — three specialized flights were dedicated to these tasks.
In total, 23 flights were performed under the natural icing program: nine on the SJ-100, six on the MC-21, and eight on the Il-114. The data processing was carried out jointly by specialists from the United Aircraft Corporation, authorized certification centers, and the Aviation Register of Russia. Following the tests, it was confirmed that all three types of aircraft meet the requirements of Russian and international airworthiness standards for flights in icing conditions.
The MC-21 and SJ-100 prototypes have already returned to the airfield in Zhukovsky to continue the main certification program. The Il-114 has completed work in Arkhangelsk and is preparing to relocate.