G500 By Gulfstream On Final Approach For Type Certification Gulfstream announced today that the G500 is on 'final approach' to gaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification this Summer. The last and key piece of testing, the Function and Reliability (F&D) testing, that is required for certification is coming to a close. "We share our customers’ excitement about the G500’s pending certification and entry into service," said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. "The work we’ve done over thousands of hours of testing will result in an all-new aircraft that performs with a level of maturity and reliability atypical of a clean-sheet design. The five G500s in the program are accumulating considerable flying hours, as planned, and performing extraordinarily well. The rigor and discipline of our program, which began with lab work years before our first flight, give us complete confidence that the aircraft we deliver to customers this year will surpass their exacting standards".
During F&R testing, the fourth G500 flight-test aircraft stayed aloft for a program-best 11 hours and 12 minutes, traveling 5,204 nautical miles/9,638 kilometers. The 300 hours of F&R testing required by the FAA for aircraft with new engines will ensure the G500, including its components and equipment, is reliable and functioning properly. This is done by flying the aircraft in conditions representative of normal in-service experience. To date, the five G500 aircraft in the flight-test program have accumulated more than 4,955 flight hours over more than 1,355 flights. For more information: Gulfstream Aerospace 500 Gulfstream Road Savannah, GA 31407 www.gulfstream.com ***
