OH-MVX in Final Completion on the Production Line

The first aircraft in the Finnish Border Guard MVX project, OH-MVX, is soon to be completed on Bombardier's production line, in Montreal. The progress of the aircraft has been closely monitored by the MVX program.

MVX Program experts visited the factory in early August to inspect the aircraft’s production phase together with the prime contractor, SNC. The aircraft will be handed over to SNC later this year, which will conduct sensor and system integration in the United States. The first aircraft will be delivered to the Finnish Border Guard in early 2027. The second aircraft, OH-MVY, will follow a year later.

The OH-MVX has already received its final livery, and all that remains is finishing touches and factory test flights. The aircraft has been built according to Bombardier’s normal processes, like any other customer aircraft. All modifications will be made by SNC afterwards. The aircraft will eventually receive the required EASA supplemental type approval due to the special equipment.

The Finnish Border Guard’s MVX Program has formed a special construction supervision team, which is responsible for supervision activities on the aircraft production line and, in due time, at SNC's facilities. Supervision activities in Montreal have been carried out in short visits, so that the factory's production processes will not interrupted. The most recent visit was carried out during the factory’s maintenance shutdown, when production was on a planned break.

The purpose of the construction supervision activities of the MVX program is:

• to verify through inspections that the aircraft and systems meet the set standards,
• to streamline the acceptance process by performing as many preliminary inspections as possible,
• to gain experience with the new aircraft type and
• to ensure the rapid and efficient operational implementation of the new capability.

The construction supervision team is formed of experts from many fields, including pilots, mechanics, operators, continuing airworthiness experts, cybersecurity experts and contract experts. The first pilots and mechanics received their Challenger 650 type ratings earlier this spring. The latest visit was carried out by a pilot and flight mechanics. The already installed and operational systems are tested. Only the engines could not be started until the factory's own test runs were completed. The mechanics' close attention during the aircraft construction supervision includes, in particular, the flawlessness of the livery, the correctness of the component installation, the correct fastening of the electrical wiring and the adequacy of the corrosion protection.

The MVX program, which started in 2019, has progressed rapidly since the procurement contract was signed in June 2024. Although it is still a long way to go until the final delivery of the first aircraft, the reception of the first aircraft is an exciting time for the Finnish Border Guard and especially for the program construction supervision team.