The ‘Passport Integrated Propulsion System’ for Bombardier’s new Global 7000 and Global 8000 business jets began flight-testing on GE Aviation’s 747-100 flying test-bed.
A single Passport engine has now successfully demonstrated aircraft systems and instrumentation functionality. Flight-testing will continue through January 2015 prior
to expected
FAA certification in 2015.
“It was a landmark day for the Passport program – we couldn’t have asked for a better performance to close out an impressive year of testing,” said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation’s Business & General Aviation and Integrated Services division. “Since its first test in 2013, the Passport engine has met or exceeded our expectations, giving us great confidence as we close in on certification.”
To date, the Passport engine’s has accumulated more than 750 hours and 300 cycles of testing. Before entry into service, the Passport engine will accumulate the equivalent of 10 years of flying for an average Bombardier Global 7000 or Global 8000 aircraft operator, with more than 4000 hours and 8000 cycles. The first flight of the Passport IPS completes a busy year of testing. Most recently, GE completed hail and bird ingestion certification tests and is currently instrumenting Passport engines for water ingestion and fan blade out certification tests, which will commence in the coming weeks.
