Jet Airways conducted its test flight to and from the Hyderabad airport on Thursday in a step towards obtaining the air operator certificate. Jet Airways, which has not flown since April 17, 2019, is currently in the process of re-launching operations under its new promoters Jalan-Kalrock Consortium.
"This is to clarify and reiterate that Jet Airways operated a test flight in Hyderabad earlier today, and a positioning ferry flight to Delhi thereafter. These were not Jet Airways’ proving flights. We expect to schedule the proving flights in the coming days, which would be jointly determined with the DGCA,” a spokesperson for Jalan-Kalrock Consortium stated.
In a proving flight, the airline staff are required to conduct themselves in a manner as they would when they carry out commercial operations to prove preparedness and safety standards.
On Thursday, the airline's CEO Sanjiv Kapoor said on Twitter that the test flight's operation was a very emotional moment "for all the wonderful folks who have been working hard to get Jet back in the skies".
The Thursday's flight was a test flight, not a proving flight, he clarified.
"The aircraft will position to Delhi this evening. Proving flight to be scheduled in the coming days from Delhi," he added.
A test flight is conducted to prove the aviation regulator DGCA that the aircraft and its components are operating normally.
After the test flight on Thursday, an airline has to conduct proving flights after which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will grant the air operator certificate (AOC).
Proving flights are similar to commercial flight with DGCA officials and airline officials as passengers and cabin crew members on board.
The Thursday's test flight was conducted with Boeing 737 aircraft of registration code VT-SXE.