IAI executive jet (archives)
Photo: Gil Kol
Israeli plane gets FAA certification
Global recession? Israel Aerospace Industries receives dozens of orders for its new executive jet
Israel Aerospace Industries' new executive jet, G280, has received a civil licensing certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation announced last week.
According to available information, the IAI has received orders for dozens of such jets, with the cost of an accessorized aircraft ranging from $16 million to $24 million.
The aircraft is being manufactured for the American company, which is designing and accessorizing the jet according to its customers' needs.
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The G280 belongs to the super-midsize executive jet category. The plane offers impressive performance and advanced technologies, and features a spacious passenger compartment fitted for 10 people in two seating areas, and a flying range of 3,600 miles (6,667 kilometers).
It is the only executive jet in the category that can fly from London to New York without making any stops.
In order to increase the number of customers, the IAI has been working with Gulfstream to obtain certificates from the European, Canadian and Chinese aviation authorities as well.
According to IAI CEO Yossi Weiss, the certification serves as further proof of the Aerospace Industries' technological ability to develop, plan, produce, and license of advanced executive jets.
"The new plane features two Honeywell HTF250G engines, the most advanced avionic system, a lateral control system and a fly-by-wire flight control system," he said.
"Thanks to its strong engine and innovative aerodynamic planning, the plane can reach an initial climb altitude of 41,000 at a maximum takeoff weight of 39,600 lb."
Giora Romm, director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, noted that "during the licensing period, the Aviation Authority invested some 60,000 engineering working hours and some 150 flight hours in this project of technological innovation in a series of systems."
