Page 15 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2018 Online Magazine

INTERVIEW: GULFSTREAM
BRIGHT
PROSPECTS
Gulfstream foresees strong
demand for the all-new G500
and G600 in Asia Pacific and
Middle East markets
ulfstream Aerospace has
already bagged more than
50 orders for the G500
Gand close to that on the
G600 and the airframer expects,
that the two new aircraft to be in
great demand in Asia Pacific and
the Middle East.
“With the G500 and G600, we have
developed an optimized combina-
tion of speed, range, technology
and efficiency that is well-suited to
customers in Asia Pacific and the
Middle East,” says Heidi Fedak, the
company’s Director of Corporate
Communications, in an interview
to Arun Sivasankaran. The opti-
mism about the market prospects
of the two new large-cabin aircraft
is based on the popularity of the
large-cabin G650ER/G650 and
G550 in the regions, she adds.
While the G500 is slated to
receive U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration type certification
this summer, certification for the
G600 is expected later this year.
ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE
Q&A
Gulfstream is scheduled to make
the first customer delivery of the
G500 this year while deliveries of II as part of the revolutionary
the G600 will commence in 2019. Symmetry Flight Deck, the most
advanced, stylish, comfortable and
Edited excerpts from the interview: intuitive in the industry.
During its 12-year production
What are some of the run, the G450 was one of the
unique features of G500 best-selling business jets in the
and improvements over industry. The G500 is the next gen-
G450? eration of Gulfstream aircraft. It is
bigger than the G450, has greater
Gulfstream’s all-new G500 will range, is more fuel efficient and has
provide customers with an opti- more advanced technology.
mized combination of speed,
range, technology and efficiency. What are the future plans
The G500 will be able to fly 5,200 for G550, will its produc-
nm/9,630 km at its long-range tion stop after G600’s
cruise speed of Mach 0.85, provid- market entry?
ing operators even greater mission
flexibility over the aircraft’s original We will continue to produce the
5,000-nm/9,260-km range. At its G550 for the foreseeable future
high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, and have the orders to support
the G500 will offer 4,400 nm/8,149 that. It is important to remember
km of range, a 600-nm/1,111-km that the G550 has been one of
increase over its projected range the most successful aircraft for
of 3,800 nm/7,038 km. Flying at Gulfstream with more than 560 in
Mach 0.90 saves up to an hour service. Customers continue to see
versus flying at Mach 0.80. On a tremendous value in the G550 with
yearly basis, this speed can result its unmatched reliability and the
in a time savings of more than 50 longest range in its class. Its best-
hours, which is significant for our in-class capabilities make it the
customers.
ideal platform for special missions
The G500 offers a multitude aircraft as evidenced by orders
of layouts to create distinct living from Italy, the Polish Ministry of
areas that can include office and Defense and the Beijing Red Cross
conferencing space as well as Emergency Medical Center.
areas for resting and entertain-
ing. Along with business aviation’s With the economy improv-
first active control sidesticks, the ing, the global demand for
G500 will include 10 touchscreens
and incorporate a third-genera- private jets has picked up
tion Gulfstream Enhanced Vision in recent. Is that reflected
System, Synthetic Vision-Primary in your orders and sales
Flight Display and Head-Up Display as well?
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