Thursday, August 11, 2011

Gulfstream: G650 On Track for Certification This Year

(Savannah, GA) Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. says additional milestones have been met in the test flight program of its G650 aircraft. The G650 is the company's "ultra-large cabin, ultra-long range" jet.

A news release says the company anticipates certification later this year by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It also says Gulfstream anticipates deliveries in 2012.

The company says as of mid-July, the four aircraft in the test-flight program have accumulated more than 1,760 hours over more than 535 flights "We're on track and moving steadily toward certification later this year," according to Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. "We've accomplished a great deal in the past two months. The aircraft continue to perform extremely well."

In early April, the test flights were suspended after a G650 crashed on the runway at an airport in Roswell, New Mexico. All four people aboard were killed. The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

According to Gulfstream, the four aircraft which are now in the test-flight program have accomplished several rounds of company testing in preparation for the FAA evaluations that are part of the certification process.

Gulfstream announced the G650 program more than three years ago. Despite the fact test flights were suspended for two months, company officials still say the aircraft remains on schedule for 2012.

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