IAI's G150 Receives Type Certificates Ahead of Schedule

Israel Aircraft Industries’ New G150 Business Jet Receives Type Certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Ahead of Schedule
Nov 10, 2005

Moshe Keret, IAI’s President & CEO: “Receiving the type certificates ahead of schedule proves IAI’s meticulous engineering and high quality of workmanship”

Bryan Moss, Gulfstream’s President: “We are confident mid-size business jet customers will appreciate the aircraft’s design and quality, as well as its outstanding performance and reliability

Udi Zohar, Director General of the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority: “We are delighted to take part in the program, which is significant to the aviation industry and economy of the state of Israel”

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)’s and Gulfstream’s G150 business jet was certified
November 7, 2005 by the Israeli Civil Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at least 10 weeks ahead of the previously announced first quarter 2006 certification date. Additionally, extensive flight testing not only confirmed many of the G150’s key performance characteristics were better than expected, but also verified its 0.85 Mach maximum operating speed (Mmo), making it the fastest business jet in its class.

The G150’s maximum range has proven better than originally projected. The concerted effort between Gulfstream and IAI’s engineering team to reduce aircraft drag increased the G150’s range by 250 nautical miles (450 km) to 2,950 nautical miles (5,310 km).
The G150’s required balanced field length also is better than first projected. Originally estimated conservatively at 5,830 feet (1,780 m), flight testing confirmed the G150’s actual balanced field length is 5,250 feet (1,600 m). This 10-percent improvement enables the G150 to take off from shorter runways, while increasing its range.

“The G150’s flawless flight test program allowed us to both satisfy certification requirements ahead of schedule and accurately measure and evaluate its performance capabilities,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. “The success of this flight test program can be attributed to the outstanding collaboration between Gulfstream and Israel Aircraft Industries; the availability of two test aircraft to conduct the various performance and systems tests; and the actual G150, which performed significantly better than we had imagined during original development.”

Mr. Henne explained how the contributions of the U.S. and Israeli civil aviation authorities helped Gulfstream achieve G150 certification 10 weeks early: “The excellent support, assistance and cooperation from the professionals at CAAI and the FAA International Programs Office in Seattle enabled us to meet the milestones of our aggressive G150 certification schedule,” Henne continued. “Additionally, their appreciation of our program objectives and their heightened responsiveness were instrumental in the two type certificates being issued on the same day.”

The Gulfstream G150 was rolled out in IAI’s facilities near Tel Aviv on Jan. 18 of this year and took its first flight May 3. Since then, the two aircraft that comprise the G150 flight-test fleet flew a combined 475 flight hours, averaging 3.6 hours per flight.

IAI’s President & CEO, Moshe Keret, said that: “Receiving the type certificates ahead of schedule proves IAI’s meticulous engineering and high quality of workmanship. IAI workers have put enormous efforts in order to meet deadlines. IAI will continue to keep its status as a world leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced aircraft.”

“We are very excited at the prospect of our first true mid-size Gulfstream business jet entering service next year,” said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. “With the G150, we are confident mid-size business jet customers will appreciate the aircraft’s design and quality, as well as its outstanding performance and reliability. And it doesn’t stop there: Gulfstream’s industry-leading worldwide product support network is committed to providing the highest quality of service and maintenance to our new G150 operators.”

Udi Zohar, Director General of the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, said that: “We are delighted to take part in the program, which is significant to the aviation industry and economy of the State of Israel. The cooperation between the CAAI, the FAA, and IAI resulted in a great product. Advancing the program’s timetable required much effort from all parties”.

At the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Orlando, Fla., Gulfstream offers a better look at the G150 with displays of the G150 flight-test aircraft and the G150 mockup – a true-to-size replica of the G150 cabin and cockpit. Following the weeklong convention, the G150 mockup resumes its North American tour, stopping at general aviation airports in cities throughout the United States.

G150 Specifications:

Powered by two Honeywell TFE731-40AR engines, the Gulfstream G150 can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.85 and altitudes of 45,000 feet (13,700 m), well above commercial traffic and weather. At a long-range cruise speed of Mach .75, the G150 can fly four passengers nonstop up to 2,950 nautical miles (5,310 km), farther than any other aircraft in its class at this speed. That’s the equivalent of New York to Los Angeles, London to Moscow, or Rio de Janeiro to Santiago.

The G150 can accommodate six to nine passengers in a choice of several cabin configurations. Its wide-body fuselage provides stand-up headroom, ample aisle space and generous legroom and headroom when seated. Like all Gulfstream customers, G150 customers can choose from a wide selection of fine leathers, upholstery fabrics, wood finishes and floor coverings. And like all Gulfstream business jets, the G150 is backed by Gulfstream’s award-winning product support.

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