Flight International — 22 August — 4 September 2017

(C. Jardin) #1
BUSINESS AVIATION
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22 | Flight International | 22 August-4 September 2017 flightglobal.com

G


ulfstream’s G500 has passed
another key milestone on its
way to hitting a target of certifica-
tion and service entry by year-end,
with the US Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration issuing type inspec-
tion authorisation, allowing the

agency to evaluate the large-cabin,
long-range business jet in flight.
The five G500 flight-test air-
craft have logged more than
3,100h across 820 sorties and are
“performing reliably and on
schedule”, says Gulfstream.

The airframer recently com-
pleted a number of critical tests,
covering cabin systems, brakes,
lighting, fly-over noise and fuel
systems, it adds.
Its fifth G500 – a production-
representative aircraft, featuring a
full interior – will be the first ex-
ample to enter service and will be
used as a company demonstra-
tor.  Customer deliveries of the
5,000nm (9,250km)-range type are
scheduled to begin in early 2018.
The G500 was launched in
2014, along with the larger-cabin
and longer-range G600. The pair
feature Gulfstream’s widest-ever
cabin, Pratt & Whitney Canada
PW800 engines, fly-by-wire con-
trols and an industry-first appli-
cation of active control sidesticks
in a commercial aircraft.
Gulfstream says its four G600
test aircraft have amassed nearly
800h across 170 flights since the

arrival of the first prototype in
December 2016 kicked off the
certification effort. The fifth and
final G600 – a production-con-
forming model – is now being
outfitted at Gulfstream’s Savan-
nah completions centre in prepa-
ration for its maiden sortie in the
third quarter. Certification and
service entry for the 6,200nm-
range aircraft are slated for 2018.
Sales of the G500 and G600
have remained consistent, help-
ing Gulfstream to retain its domi-
nance of the large-cabin business
aircraft segment, in which it also
competes with the in-production
G550 and G650/ER.
During a 26 July earnings call,
Phebe Novakovic, chief execu-
tive of parent company General
Dynamics, said its large-cabin
family accounted for 80% of the
orders it received during the sec-
ond quarter of 2017. ■

PROGRAMME KATE SARSFIELD LONDON

G500 homes in on certification target


FAA evaluations begin as Gulfstream prepares its clean-sheet, 5,000nm-range business jet for year-end service entry

G


erman charter operator Air
Hamburg has become the
launch customer for the Em-
braer 650E, following delivery of
the  large-cabin business jet on
26 July.
“The aircraft is now await-
ing  registration, and we expect
D-AJET to be available for charter
before the end of August,” says
Air Hamburg partner Simon Ebert.
A second aircraft is scheduled
to arrive in September and a third
in November, with additional ac-
quisitions planned for next year,
he adds.
Air Hamburg is one the largest
operators of Embraer business
jets in Europe, with a fleet of six
Legacy 650s – the predecessor of
the E-variant – two super-midsize
Legacy 600s, one midsize Legacy
500 and two Phenom 300 light

twins. Its line-up also includes 11
Cessna Citation business jets and
a Beechcraft King Air 200.
The Legacy 650E, which has a
3,900nm (7,220km) range, was
launched in November 2016 as
the next iteration of the six-year-
old 650.

A


merican football team the
New England Patriots has
acquired two former American
Airlines Boeing 767-300ERs for
travel to away games, Flight
Fleets Analyzer shows.
The 767s are owned by a com-
pany called Team 125 Inc, operat-
ed by New England Patriots LLC
and financed by Kraft Group, a
company led by Patriots owner
Robert Kraft, the database shows.
American acquired the 767s
new in 1991 and parked them
early last year; the aircraft have se-
rial numbers 25193 (N366AA)
and 25194 (N39367), and each
had accumulated about 99,000h
over 16,000 cycles as of early
2016, Fleets Analyzer shows.
Each 767 has a market value of
about $5.5 million. ■

Five test aircraft have racked up more than 3,100h across 820 sorties

Gulfstream

PURCHASE
JON HEMMERDINGER BOSTON

Touchdown for


American 767s


in Patriots move
The $26 million aircraft in-
cludes a host of features, includ-
ing a synthetic vision system and
autothrottle as standard, a re-
styled, three-zone interior with
full HD in-flight entertainment,
and an “unprecedented” 10-year
or 10,000 flight-hour warranty. ■

HANDOVER KATE SARSFIELD LONDON

Air Hamburg strengthens its charter


fleet with initial Legacy 650E delivery


Operator will add two more examples in September and November

Air Hamburg
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