FAA awarded certification for the 6-passenger entry-level business jet on March 23, some 2-1/2 years later than Raytheon planned. The aircraft was introduced during the 1995 National Business Aviation Association convention with ambitions to win certification in the fall of 1998. But first flight of the aircraft didn't occur until December 1998, and a series of technical concerns from both the company and FAA caused the certification schedule to slide until last month.

Raytheon Aircraft (here at Booth 7276) knew that the original certification target was aggressive, and company executives maintain that they took just slightly longer than the 60-month industry average to achieve approval for a new aircraft.

The Premier is not only the first business jet that Raytheon Aircraft designed from scratch, it's the first business jet with a composite fuselage to win approval.

Raytheon had more than 50 orders in hand within days of introducing the Premier and currently has orders for more than 300.

With shipments slated to begin next quarter, the company plans to deliver 36 of the aircraft this year.
"Certification of the Premier I marks a new era in business jet technology and customer value," said Hansel Tookes, Raytheon Aircraft chairman and CEO. "The Premier I is a revolutionary aircraft that defines the future of business aviation."

Powered by two Williams-Rolls FJ44-2A engines, the Premier I can cruise at 455 knots, and has a range of 1,650 nautical miles. Price is $4.9 million.