Embraer Executive Jets Launches Legacy 450 Fabrication 

Embraer Executive Jets passed a major milestone in the mid-light Legacy 450 program last week when the first part was milled for the business jet, marking the beginning of fabrication. 

A component of the forward fuselage, the part was milled from a block of aluminum alloy by a five-axis, high-performance machining center. Fully automated, the milling process drew data directly from a digital mockup of the 2,300-nm-range Legacy 450. Once completed, the part was approved by a quality control process that employed the use of laser devices for design validation with the digital mockup. 

For both the Legacy 450 and mid-size Legacy 500, Embraer has completed more than 8,000 systems test hours with 2,500 hours logged on the Iron Bird since November 2010.  

GULFSTREAM G650 CLOSING IN ON CERTIFICATION 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilots have completed all the scheduled flying required for the certification program for Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650. In addition, the European Aviation Safety Agency test team finished the flight testing required for its validation of the FAA’s type certification. 
                                                                    
The G650 received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, and is in the process of completing the final certification tests with the FAA to support entry-into-service later this year. As of July, the test fleet had flown more than 3,800 hours during more than 1,160 flights. 

The final certification tests included completing the field performance tests, evaluating the aircraft’s performance in natural icing conditions and conducting function and reliability testing.  

GULFSTREAM G280 POISED FOR CERTIFICATION 

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s super-midsized G280 aircraft is closing in on entry-into-service (EIS). As of July 31, the three aircraft used during the flight-test program have flown more than 2,000 hours over more than 740 flights. The fatigue test article has completed more than 17,000 of 40,000 cycles. 

The G280 received provisional type certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 1, 2012, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel on Dec. 29, 2011. The aircraft is slated to enter service later this year after the final type certification requirements have been achieved. 

A number of activities are under way to prepare the aircraft and its operators for EIS. 

The FAA Flight Operations Evaluation Board has completed its work on establishing the aircraft’s master minimum equipment list (MMEL), an inventory of systems, instruments and equipment considered essential for safe flight.  The European Aviation Safety Agency is in the final stages of approving the G280 MMEL for use by European operators as well. 

Serial Number (S/N) 2004 has received an FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate, allowing Gulfstream to use the aircraft for marketing demonstration and surveys.

Cessna boosts Citation Latitude range to 2500nm 

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition that it has increased the range capability of its planned new midsize jet, the Citation Latitude, once again. The Latitude was originally announced to have an expected range of 2,000 nautical miles, but through customer input and quality design and engineering, the Latitude is now expected to have a maximum range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers).

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