Galaxy Bizjet Goes to Veridian Aviation

Galaxy Aerospace (Ft. Worth, TX) last week delivered Galaxy serial number 008, the fourth production model, to Seth Koppes, chairman of Veridian Aviation Services, an aircraft sales, insurance and consulting service.

Veridian expects to fly its new Galaxy 800 to 1,000 hours per year mainly in the United States with frequent trans-continental trips. The $18.2-million aircraft has a 10-passenger, two-cabin layout with four executive seats forward, a four-place grouping around a conference/dining table, and a three-place divan (belted for two) aft.

In the cockpit, Galaxy installed two Northstar CT 1000 Universal Cockpit Computers with flat panel displays. The system stores all approach plates as well as emergency checklists and also provides flight-planning software.

Also included are three Aerovision cameras. One on the aircraft belly checks the status of the landing gear and provides a straight-down view of the terrain below, while a forward-looking camera on the tail and another in the cockpit looking forward through the windscreen provide additional views. Video images can be displayed in the cabin as well as on cockpit flight management system (FMS) displays.

A Universal Satcom World Connect System provides live news and E-mail via satphone. News broadcasts from Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and other sources can be displayed on video monitors. Separate video channels allow occupants to select live broadcasts or on-board videos and DVDs for personal viewing. A Univision Flight Information System provides 3-D topographical maps and flight status information to passengers.

Three Galaxy business jets have entered service with customers since Jan. 2000. A fourth Galaxy is in operation with Galaxy Aerospace as a demonstrator aircraft.

Edited by David Robb