GULFSTREAM’S G500 has entered the final stage of its flight test and certification programme, while the larger G600 has completed company field performance testing. These are significant stages towards achieving US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification. Including additional testing required for the enhanced performance (see table), the G500’s certification is anticipated in early 2018, while the G600 should gain its certification before the end of 2018.
Gulfstream’s president Mark Burns said: “Both programmes remain on track and are methodically moving toward their respective type certifications. The five aircraft in each programme continue to exceed our expectations.”
To date, the five G500 aircraft have accumulated more than 4,250 flight hours and over 1,175 flights. The fourth G500 to enter the flighttest programme is poised to begin function and reliability testing, the capstone of a flight-test programme serving to demonstrate the overall reliability of the aircraft’s final engineering designs.
FAA-mandated function and reliability testing totals 300 hours and are used to evaluate how the aircraft behaves in conditions representative of normal in-flight operations, including hot, cold and humid environments. Gulfstream has exceeded the FAA’s certification requirement by flying a fully outfitted production G500 more than 400 hours.
The larger G600 test fleet has amassed more than 1,395 flight hours on more than 360 flights. FAA certification testing for flyover noise is next on the G600’s test schedule. Nigel Pittaway
