Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC
BOMBARDIER SAYS that US certification of the Learjet 45 business jet is now expected in August, with European approval scheduled for October. When the Learjet 45 was launched in 1992, simultaneous US Federal Aviation Administration/European Joint Aviation Authorities certification was planned for 1996.
Approval awaits the completion of function and reliability (F&R) testing using the flfth flight-test aircraft. "F&R tests are pacing certification," says John Holding, executive vice-president of engineering and product development. More than 1,600h have been accumulated on some 900 flights with the five test aircraft since the first flight in October 1995.
"This is the first business jet to have concurrent FAA/JAA certification. We have a long way to go for true harmonisation, but we have broken new ground here," says Holding. The Learjet 45's AlliedSignal TFE731-20 turbofan was certificated in April. Company flight testing has been completed and the aircraft "-is meeting or exceeding expectations", he says.
Weight has increased, but the speed, range and field-performance guarantees will be met, Holding says. The take-off gross weight has been raised by 225kg, to 9,070kg, to offset an increase in empty weight while maintaining a payload of 635kg with the maximum 2,720kg of fuel. The 460kt (850km/h) cruise speed, 3,970km (2,150nm) range, and take-off and landing distances, all miss the original design objectives by small amounts, but are within the ranges guaranteed to customers.
Holding says that no orders have been cancelled because of the delay. The company has orders for 130 aircraft and plans to deliver 24 by the end of January 1998, and 60 the following year. Some 23 are in production, or have been flown at Learjet's Wichita, Kansas, plant.
Source: Flight International
