In Fact, It Was Done Last Friday... Before FAA Deadline

Days after reporting the company had asked for an extension on the time granted by the FAA to complete certification testing for its Hawker 4000 super-midsized business jet, officials at Raytheon have announced a major milestone on that journey has been completed.

Raytheon reports that Function and Reliability tests of its composite-bodied, aluminum-winged jet were completed May 26 -- five days before the end of the five-year, FAA-mandated timeframe for Part 25 certification of the aircraft. Officials with the company report Raytheon is now working with the FAA to finalize the required documentation that will allow the FAA to issue the Type Certificate.

As Aero-News reported Tuesday, Raytheon had requested an extension to that deadline from the FAA, to give the company more time to wrap up testing on the aircraft. Had the deadline passed without such an extension, Raytheon may have had to start over from the beginning on its efforts to certify the bizjet, which was first announced in 1996.

Analysts have speculated the length of time needed by Raytheon to get the Hawker 4000 certificated may stem from the jet's use of an all-composite fuselage... common on new GA aircraft, but still a relative rarity for larger bizjets.

"It's very uncommon," said FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory at the time. "We're exploring the options with them. We haven't made any decisions yet."

So... did Raytheon beat the clock? And what other hurdles -- if any -- remain on the 4000's path to certification? Raytheon isn't saying just yet, and our calls to a representative at Raytheon Thursday have yet to be returned.

Raytheon has 50 orders placed for the Hawker 4000, from fractional operator NetJets. Deliveries of the first planes are scheduled for 2007.

FMI: www.raytheonaircraft.com