NORDAM suspends production of Gulfstream G500 and G600 engine nacelles
NORDAM, the Tulsa OK based component manufacturer and repair company, says that it has been forced to halt production of engine nacelles for the Gulfstream G500 and G600 as part of a disagreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada.
NORDAM supplies the nacelles – the housing around engines – to Pratt & Whitney Canada for the PW800 series engines that power the new Gulfstream aircraft.
“After months of unsuccessful attempts to resolve a contract dispute with Pratt & Whitney Canada, we have suspended production on the Gulfstream G500/G600 aircraft program where NORDAM has developed and is producing the aircraft’s nacelle system components,” saidMeredith Madden, CEO of NORDAM, in a statement issued to Corporate Jet Investor.
Although the engine has been certificated, Pratt & Whitney parent company’s United Technologies CEO Gregg Hayes said during the company’s first quarter earnings call that some work was still ongoing on the nacelle.
“Pratt & Whitney has worked diligently for more than a year with our contracted supplier NORDAM to resolve their challenges on the PW800 nacelle program. Our objectives have been to minimize the impact on the Gulfstream program and assist our supplier,” said the company in a statement issued to Corporate Jet Investor.
“Despite having a contract requiring them to perform, NORDAM has chosen to breach its contract with us by suspending work on the PW800 nacelle program and we will hold them accountable,” said Pratt & Whitney. “P&W is laser focused on supporting its customer’s engine delivery timelines, and we are taking all measures to minimize the impact on our customer’s aircraft programs.” Continued the statement.
In May Gulfstream said that the G500 was nearing the completion of its function and reliability (F&R) testing, which is the final stage of testing that it needed to complete before gaining its FAA type certificate.
In June the firm said that the F&R testing had been completed but filed for an extension on one of the FAA’s airworthiness certification rules.
