Certification Highlights Department's Safety Practices

The Flight Operations Test organization at Gulfstream has earned International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 2 certification, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to the industry’s best safety practices.

“Gulfstream is one of the first original equipment manufacturers to have its Flight Operations Test department obtain IS-BAO certification,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “We pursued this voluntary certification to validate our safety management system processes and best practices and to set a new standard in the business aviation industry. This certification is significant as we begin two flight test programs for the all-new Gulfstream G500 and G600.”

IS-BAO, developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), is a code of best practices that uses standardization and professionalism to enhance flight department safety. Gulfstream Flight Operations Test worked with IBAC auditors to adapt IS-BAO protocols of operational practices to effectively evaluate flight-test processes, which, by necessity, involve flights that are significantly different from those of a business aircraft operator. IBAC auditors scrutinized the department’s standard operating, scheduling and dispatch procedures, and how they coordinate with the company’s more than 16 production and service facilities around the world.

Gulfstream’s Flight Operations Test department is responsible for experimental and production test flights for new and pre-owned aircraft. Experimental test flights are flown to demonstrate design goals have been met and to earn type certification from government entities. Production flights and condition survey flights ensure an aircraft is in compliance with the type design and the performance specifications to which it is certified.

The department comprises 43 pilots who conduct more than 2,200 annual test flights on Gulfstream’s in-production fleet as well as the G200, GIII, GIV and GV. Flight Test pilots also will conduct developmental and certification flights on the G500 and G600.

“Our Flight Test organization plays an instrumental role in delivering the world’s finest aviation experience to our customers,” said Nale. “Gulfstream has advanced the business jet industry, and it’s important to be recognized for our commitment to safety, from design, to production, to flight.”

IBAC is a non-profit, non-governmental association responsible for representing, promoting and protecting the interests of business aviation in international policy and regulatory forums.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.gulfstream.com