As Gulfstream’s flagship G650ER grows in popularity, new models are set to boost the US jet manufacturer’s portfolio for the high flying elite

The familiar name “Gulfstream” has been a presence in the Middle East for forty years. A synonym for both luxury and reliability, its continued presence is underpinned by the now permanently established reputation for quality and a measured, ethical approach to business.

Steve Cass, Gulfstream’s Vice President, Communication, is sanguine about the current economic climate and takes a wider view of the future, based on his experience and the progress of the company over the last four decades.

“In the short term, we have to address the markets as they are, but what has made Gulfstream very successful is how disciplined we are in pricing, production and managing our business well. We stay profitable even during the down times. We had the best third quarter (2016) for orders in the last five years, so there are signs of things improving.”

The balance of the world market in terms of customer demand has recently changed a little. Cass reflects: “A couple of years ago, we saw huge international demand; that has shifted a bit. Slightly more than 50 per cent of our business is in the US, and that swings back and forth a little.”

Cass notes that Gulfstream is seeing more individuals purchasing as opposed to the traditional corporate market. “I think that is where it has changed a little bit and it helps broaden our customer base.” 

These fluctuations, Cass felt, were inevitable, perhaps waves on a sea of demand.  The combination of an underlying depth of commitment to customer and quality together with sound business principles was the key to business sustainability. Asked for his view on the key elements to Gulfstream’s continued success, he says: “managing the near term, investing for the long term and taking the positive view, I think that is our recipe for success. That and making sure we deliver on our promises to our customers.”


MEBAA SHOW

Gulfstream’s static display at the recent Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) show in Dubai, UAE, in December included the flagship G650ER, the high-performing G550 and the class-leading G280.

Mark Burns, President of Gulfstream, looked forward to a productive show in what he identified as an important region. “Gulfstream aircraft deliveries to the Middle East began in 1976. Forty years later, we have more than 120 aircraft based in the Middle East and North Africa. With this growth, we continue to invest in product support capabilities throughout the region, including expanding our parts and materials inventory at Dubai World Central.” 

The extended version of the G650, the G650ER, went into service at the end of 2014. “It is still the longest range of any business jet today – 7,500 nm, and fastest at Mach 0.9.  It holds the world speed record from Dubai to New York – 13 hours 7 minutes along with a clutch of other city-pair records,” says Cass. 

The MEBAA event was the first public outing for the G650ER with the spectacular four living area configuration. Cass says it was the first time Gulfstream had a demonstrator – it was in fact the 210th G650 produced in the four years since production of the range – with the four-area configuration, “but we have been doing this right from the beginning on the G650.”

“About 25 per cent of our operators have accepted this very workable and attractive floor plan with specific areas for work, resting, dining and sleeping. The private stateroom features en-suite facilities and is a luxurious affair indeed. 

As well as thoughtfully laid out physical space, the trademark largest windows in business aviation lighten the cabin of this very quiet aircraft that is pressurised to 3,000 feet, thus minimising fatigue. In comparison, most airlines pressurise cabins to 8,000 feet. 

“So far, the reaction of people who have seen it has been very positive indeed.”

He observes that the G650ER is a heavier aircraft with bigger tanks thus able to carry more fuel. “What is particularly good is that the G650 can be converted into an extended range version – so we can facilitate that if a client requires a range change.”

The G650 is very popular in the Middle East with 25 aircraft based in the region. A major customer is Qatar Airways with three airplanes currently in operation. During the 2016 Farnborough Airshow, Qatar placed orders for three more.

“That brings the confirmed orders for the G500, G550 and G650 to 30 – a big output for the few years the type has been in production,” Cass says. “I think the real attraction of the type is the range – non-stop to Asia, non-stop to the US, and of course the cabin size of the aircraft.”

Cass agrees that the status of having a corporate or private aircraft is very much secondary to practical reasons. “The value of the planes to clients is the time issues – on the average flight on this aircraft you are saving anywhere from an hour to hour-and-a-half. Compared with an airline, airport delays, cancellations and so on, the time-savings are even bigger.”

The aircraft generally sell on the real needs of customers that relate to the aircraft’s capability and that end, Gulfstream also had the G550 and the G280 at MEBAA so that the range of customer needs and the planes to match them are all there.”


NEW MODELS

Looking to the immediate future, Cass says the coming G500 and G600 models are imminent. 

The G500 replaces the G450, which recently announced end of production. It is slated to receive type certification in 2017 and enter service ahead of schedule in the fourth quarter of the year. The G500 can fly 5,000 nm/9,260 km at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm/7,038 km at Mach 0.90.

The redesigned G600 cabin was revealed at NBAA-BACE in 2015, and the extensive feedback from that together with additional customer insights, combined to deliver a customer-centric interior design for the G500. New seat design is one of the elements that has benefited the most from customer feedback. The G500’s seats feature innovative design techniques and ergonomic enhancements that improve comfort and reduce fatigue levels. Customisation continues throughout the cabin with a focus on flexibility. The aircraft has forward and aft lavatories and a full-size galley that can be located either forward or aft. The galley features a steam oven as an option, an interchangeable beverage maker and a refrigerator that can be placed above or below the counter, depending on the desire for storage or counter space. Customisable flooring options like stone and wood can be selected for the entry, galley and lavatories. 

Meanwhile, the first G600 test aircraft was delivered to the flight test centre in Savannah, US, in October for instrumentation and ground vibration testing and successfully completed its first flight on December 17, kicking off the model’s flight-test programme.  Two additional G600 test aircraft have been inducted into the flight test centre in anticipation of their flights early in 2018.

“This flight went exactly as anticipated, thanks in large part to the investments we have made in our ground-based laboratories,” says Burns. “This flight was the perfect way to wrap up 2016 and set the tone for a successful 2017.”

More than 55,000 hours of testing have been completed in Gulfstream’s state-of-the-art lab facilities, which include a Systems Integration Bench, cabin and flight deck Integration Test Facility (ITF) and Iron Bird (a ground-based test rig to test the flight surfaces and hull under stress) for both the G600 and G500. 

Common technology developed for the G500 and G600, including the Symmetry Flight Deck and other systems, will allow the G600 flight-test programme to capitalise on the work being accomplished as part of the G500 flight test. To date, the five G500 aircraft flying in the programme have completed more than 2,000 hours of testing. 

The G600 will be able to travel 6,200 nm/11,482 km at Mach 0.85 and 4,800 nm/8,890 km at Mach 0.90, and its maximum operating speed is Mach 0.925, the same maximum speed as the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER. The aircraft share many of the same amenities inside the cabin, too, including four living areas, the largest windows in business aviation, the lowest cabin altitudes in the class and the quietest sound levels. 

The G600 is projected to enter service in 2018, ahead of schedule. “It has similar technology to the G650, 0.9 Mach, and brand new flight deck with active control sidesticks, really a first in business aviation,” says Cass. “It has a shorter range than the G650ER, but then not everyone needs to fly to New York. The G500/G600 will reach Johannesburg and Hong Kong from Dubai – so they address that demand.”

However, Cass feels that it is the G600 jet – with its greater fuel efficiency, more cabin space and range – which is taking Gulfstream to the next level.