Gulfstream G280 given Green Light from Europe

European validation for the Gulfstream G280 business jet after Israel and the USA certificated the super-midsize aircraft. The G280 was introduced in 2008 as a replacement for the G200 is a 10-seat aircraft manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries in Tel Aviv and completed at Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, USA. Gulfstream delivered 17 midsize-category jets – including the G280’s smaller stablemate the G150 – during 2012. This tally is expected to climb to 26 in 2013.

Mark Burns, Gulfstream president for product support said “The 250h internal testing programme – among the most extensive voluntary reliability programmes ever implemented by Gulfstream – incorporates pilot check rides, maintenance on auxiliary power units, engine run qualifications, technical operations, publications validations and basic servicing and handling at typical fixed-base operators.”

Gulfstream’s G280 business jet has recently set 15 new city-pair speed records as part of a company-driven programme to demonstrate the reliability of the super-midsize aircraft, the most significant from Aspen, Colorado, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and another from Honolulu to Savannah.

The G280 flew the 3,034km (1,640nm) from Aspen-Pitkin County airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport in 3h 21min, at an average speed of Mach 0.84. The G280 also achieved a flight of 7,630km from Honolulu to Savannah in 8h 19 min, at an average speed of Mach 0.80. Certificated by the US National Aeronautic Association and forwarded to the Switzerland-based Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for ratification as world records.