FlightSafety International and Gulfstream announced that the first full-flight simulator for the Gulfstream G500 has received level-C qualification from the FAA, allowing G500 flight crews to start training in Savannah, Georgia, once the new business twin jet enters the market.
“We are pleased to announce the FAA qualification of the first simulator for the new Gulfstream G500,” said Bruce Whitman, FlightSafety chairman, president and CEO. “Our close working relationship with Gulfstream has resulted in full-flight simulators and other advanced training devices that reflect the exact flying and operating characteristics of the aircraft.”
The G500 is closing in on certification and service introduction, both of which are expected in the coming months, Gulfstream says.
“The certification of the G500 full-flight simulator is a major step forward as we prepare for the G500 aircraft to enter service later this year,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Throughout the G500 program, FlightSafety has been diligent in ensuring our customers have the training they need to accept delivery of their aircraft and quickly leverage its many capabilities.”
A second simulator, which will be interchangeable between the Gulfstream G500 and slightly larger G600, will be qualified following aircraft certification. Pilot and maintenance technician training will then begin using both simulators at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Savannah, Georgia.
The new simulators are the first business jet devices equipped with FlightSafety’s CrewView collimated glass mirror display. FlightSafety says CrewView provides “far superior distortion-free optical performance with greater clarity, sharpness, and brightness.” The glass technology was developed to provide “a true spherical shape for exact geometry” across the entire viewing area.
The simulator also features FlightSafety’s Vital 1100 visual system. The Gulfstream G500 and G600 training programs will feature new Matrix integrated training system devices including classroom workstations, graphical flight-deck simulators, and FAA level-4-qualified flight training devices.
The announcement by FlightSafety and Gulfstream continues a business relationship spanning more than four decades, since FlightSafety became the manufacturer’s official training provider. Today, FlightSafety operates nearly 30 Gulfstream simulators throughout the world.
