Uganda Airlines Bombardier CRJ-900 Test Flight At Montreal Airport

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Uganda Airlines will fly again very soon, sources confirm. There’s a lot of excitement in Uganda, at the sight of a YouTube video filmed by Mark Brandon which has been spreading like a wildfire, over the past couple of days.

The clip shows Uganda Airlines first Bombardier CRJ-900 taxing from the hanger to runway 24, before taking to the clouds in a test flight CDR957 at Montreal’s Mirabel International airport – YMX/CYMX.

In July 2018, the Government of Uganda placed a firm order worth $190 million (Shs 711 billion) for four CRJ 900 jets from Canada-based manufacturer of regional airliners, Bombardier.

The State confirmed an additional 2 A339 aircrafts which would come at a later time and would plow longer routes.

To many Ugandans, it was a cocktail of feelings to see this first CRJ in the country’s signature black-yellow-red tail with Uganda’s bird, the Grey Crowned Crane taking its maiden test flight on 16th February 2019.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Works and Transport last year, Uganda’s national carrier – Uganda Airlines which had ceased operations in 2001, is expected to return to the skies this year, starting with one aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ 900.

The aircraft which will be delivered to Uganda at what is still considered a questionable date (March 2019) bears the words “Fly the crane to the Pearl of Africa”,  some of the very words used by Sir Churchill Winston, former British Premiere,  when he referred to Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa”.

To many, the revival of Uganda Airlines comes as an answered prayer expected to boost tourism, improve national pride and visibility as well as ease travel.

Details about the clear management plan to ensure that the same problems that caused its collapse 2 decades ago remain scanty, but I am reliably informed that Government of Uganda instituted a special committee to ensure the revival and smooth running of the country’s flag bearer.

The revamped Airline is expected to compete for airspace with seasoned continental airlines like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South African Airways, RwandAir, and many others.

I will keep you guys posted about any other developments that cross my eyes, as they do come in. But in the interim, please feel free to let me know how you feel about this great news.

And if you haven’t watched the clip yet, then you can watch the YouTube Video here on my YouTube Channel, or simply click on the image below.

About the Bombardier CRJ-900 (Source: Bombardier.com)

The Bombardier CRJ900 is a twin-engined regional airliner with a capacity of a maximum of 90 passengers. It has 2 General Electric CF34-8C5 engines with an Engine power each of 63,4 kN 14250 lbf. It reaches a speed of 880 km/h 475 kts / 547 mph with an empty weight of 21.432 kg / 47.250 lbs.