Gulfstream 650 flight testing resumes

Gulfstream Aerospace has resumed flight testing of its G650 business jet.

The company voluntarily halted flight testing after a fatal accident took place during flight testing April 2 at Roswell, N.M. killing two test pilots and two flight engineers.

The first flight since the accident was made Saturday when Serial N0. 6001 flew for 1 hour and 39 minutes, Gulfstream officials said.

“We have conducted all the necessary reviews to assure ourselves that we can safely resume the flight-test program at this point,” Pres Henne, senior vice president of Gulfstream programs, engineering and test, said in a statement.

Gulfstream has worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration in the process and received its approval to resume flight testing, Henne said.

“It is our responsibility to move forward with the flight-test program, and we will do so in a safe and prudent manner,” he said.

Test pilots had been conducting take-off performance and brake testing the morning of the crash. On take-off, the plane had just gotten airborne when the right wingtip touched the ground, reports said. The plane lost altitude, the gear collapsed, it skidded and caught fire.

Gulfstream continues to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation, the company said.

The G650 flight test program has made 470 flights with 1,560 hours of flight time as the company works towards the 2,200 hours required for certification.

Gulfstream still expects certification in 2011 with entry into service in 2012.

This story was originally published May 31, 2011 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Gulfstream 650 flight testing resumes."