Mexicana de Aviación aircraft performs test flights to obtain AOCs

MEXICO - The state-owned airline, the new Mexicana de Aviación, is currently conducting test flights to obtain Air Operator Certification (AOC) from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).

Photographs have circulated in social networks of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft belonging to the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), but which has already been painted with the colors and logo of Mexicana de Aviación, while its license plate has been registered as a commercial aircraft with the registration number XA-ASM.

This aircraft was painted at MRO Iberoamerica at its site at the Ramos Arizpe Airport in Saltillo, Coahuila, and later moved to the Tijuana International Airport, in order to perform flight hours for certification.

In this way, the MXA1200/FAM1200 label could be seen on the radars of the Mazatlan Control Center in test flight and was ready to land in Tijuana and it is expected that this B-737 aircraft of the Mexican Air Force will make other flights in order to be ready for December 26th, the date set by the government for the start of operations.

This aircraft has FAM pilots that have already obtained their civilian licenses (TPI and Commercial) and on the other hand, it is estimated that the two Embraer 145 that were contracted under wet lease to the regional airline TAR will also be ready to start operations on December 26 with 9 routes and a total of 21 flights per week (3 per day).

Even though, according to the ACAA manual and NOM 08, aircraft must comply with 100 flight hours and at least five night flights and at least five instrument approaches to obtain an air operator's certificate (AOC), it is possible to request a reduction.