Fokker Services Group, a Dutch independent aircraft integrator of aircraft completions and conversions has announced the receipt of the EASA Supplement Type Certificate (STC) on a special mission project.
The STC relates to a joint initiative between Gulfstream Aerospace Cooperation and Marubeni Aerospace Corporation (“Marubeni”). Marubeni will be acting on behalf of the Japanese Coast Guard.
The STC Conversion
The STC in question will include a full-scale conversion of a Gulfstream G550 aircraft into a maritime surveillance aircraft.
This entire work order falls under Fokker’s Aircraft Completion & Conversion business unit.
The Dutch company has a reputation for its excellence, due to its skills of many decades in the industry and a clean track record.
With that being said, the Japanese party has gained the utmost trust of the Dutch team to convert their Gulfstream to perform special surveillance missions.
These include responsibility missions, such as environmental risk monitoring and search & rescue missions for missing individuals and ships.
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Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream
The Gulfstream G550 of the Japanese Coast Guard was delivered to Fokker at their worldwide headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, USA.
The Gulfstream’s interior and exterior have been modified by program partners and completed by Fokker with the latest state-of-the-art surveillance equipment for long-distance search and rescue missions.
The G550 is exceptionally capability of performing such missions demanded by its operator. This modification can not be done by Gulfstream’s longstanding relationship with Fokker and the Japanese Coast Guard with dates of more than 20 years.
The first-ever delivery of the modified Gulfstream GV is still in service up until today.
Sales Director Aircraft Completion and Conversions at Fokker Services Group Robert Koolen stated: “Integrating the set of onboard detection equipment and sensors required a complex series of modifications.”
“Our century-long history has brought a lot of knowledge and craftsmanship needed in all phases and facets of such a conversion.”
“Thanks to our broad set of capabilities and competencies, such as our design organization certifications, cabin interior and wiring interconnections manufacturing skills, and our experienced production team, we were well prepared for the job.”
Roland van Dijk, CEO of Fokker Services Group commenced on this latest conversion project: “Fokker takes pride in having been selected by Gulfstream and Marubeni again for this complex and prestigious project.”
“Being the integrator in such a complex project can be a challenge and requires certain skills to make it a success. Aligning your engineering, structural modifications, installations, test phase, and certification process with the many different parties involved sometimes feels like a balancing act.”
“Fokker is extremely pleased to contribute to the commendable mission of the Japan Coast Guard through a variety of services we provide.”
With the aircraft being converted and applicable to EASA STC being valid, the aircraft will continue its test program for the time being.
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