As the investigation into the cause of the fatal crash of a Gulfstream G650 during an April test flight continues, company officials acknowledge there will likely be some certification delays for the large cabin jet, but they have confidence that the inquiry will conclude soon enough to allow it to complete the FAA certification program this year.
Speaking during a first-quarter earnings call, Jay Johnson, CEO of parent company General Dynamics, responded to pointed analyst questions regarding the status of the ultra-long range jet, stating, “I said we would deliver approximately 12 green G650s this year, and I’m still in a place in the year where I believe we can do that.”Gulfstream voluntarily suspended flight operations for the four remaining G650s pending the results of the NTSB investigation, causing a delay in the program’s rigid testing timeline. “Obviously, the type certification and the FAA restart with the NTSB authorization is elemental to that,” said Johnson. “But at this point, I’m quite comfortable suggesting that we can carry out the plan.”
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