You Can Never Have Too Many Gulfstreams...
Gulfstream tells ANN
that only one year after the large-cabin, long-range G450 business
jet accomplished its first flight, Gulfstream remains on schedule
for certification by the FAA in the third quarter of this year.
They expect customer deliveries to commence in the second quarter
of 2005.
Since the official start of the G450 flight-test program one
year ago, four G450 test aircraft have accumulated more than 1,250
flight hours during approximately 500 flights. By employing the
four test aircraft, Gulfstream has been able to test and evaluate
multiple aspects of the aircraft simultaneously in a relatively
short amount of time.
"I'm pleased and proud to report that we are on schedule and on
budget," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs,
engineering and test, who has overseen all new Gulfstream aircraft
development for a decade. "Now that we've completed all company
testing, we are concentrating our efforts to ensure we meet all
certification requirements of the FAA, the Joint Aviation
Authorities (JAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA)."
To date, Gulfstream has completed all development tests for
aerodynamic performance, handling qualities, propulsion, systems
and avionics. As part of its current certification testing, the
G450 team has successfully completed the following tests:
- Flutter
- Engine inlet distortion
- Fire extinguishing concentration
- Fluid drainage and ingestion
- Engine margins
- Field performance (including demonstrating stopping performance
with 95-percent worn brakes at 100 percent maximum energy)
- Hydraulics, flight controls and electrical system
- Part 36 Fly-over noise tests
Additionally, Gulfstream’s Flight Operations personnel are
working with the FAA Flight Standards and JAA Operations
Evaluations Boards to evaluate pilot type rating for the G450.
Earlier this month, the FAA/JAA team members completed the first
phase of the evaluation process, where they observed and evaluated
the G450 training program as experienced Gulfstream pilots - those
who have one or more Gulfstream type ratings - completed the
course. The FAA/ JAA team has moved into the second phase of the
process, which involves evaluating the G450 training of pilots who
are not type-rated on Gulfstream aircraft. The FAA/JAA team’s
findings, which are expected in early May, will identify possible
areas of improvement in the G450 pilot training course and
determine whether the operations of G450, G550 and GV business-jet
models are similar enough to share pilot type ratings, with
completion of differences coursework.
Developed concurrently with Gulfstream’s large-cabin,
ultra-long-range G550, the G450 was formally introduced this past
October at the National Business Aviation Association’s
Annual Meeting and Convention in Orlando, Fla. In February of this
year at Asian Aerospace 2004 in Singapore, Gulfstream announced the
new G350, which the company anticipates will share the same type
rating with the G450, G500 and G550. Gulfstream expects to receive
FAA certification of the G350 in the fourth quarter of this year,
while the first customer delivery is expected in the third quarter
of 2005.