A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AMONG JETS
Gulfstream leads the industry in providing a healthy cabin experience
The Covid-19 crisis has strengthened the case for business aviation. And some of the most attractive business jets come from Gulfstream. Its product line offers a compelling mix of size and range to suit every operator’s need. Gulfstream is optimistic about the market in India, says Scott Neal, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Gulfstream
How does Gulfstream view opportunities in India? We are optimistic about the market in India. As we cautiously emerge from the Covid pandemic, we are seeing strong interest in our aircraft from first-time buyers and corporate customers with a desire to grow their fleets. The Covid-19 crisis and its impact on travel have further strengthened the case for business aviation. Business-jet operators and passengers have much more control over schedules and routes as well as health and safety when traveling in a private jet. We are also seeing an increase in charter traffic in the region, which can ultimately lead to first-time buyers after they experience firsthand the benefits of business aviation.
How does Gulfstream sell its products in India?
Gulfstream’s Regional Vice President of Sales for the Middle East and South Asia, Nicolas Robinson, and our independent sales representative in India, Empire Aviation Group’s Paras Prakash Dhamecha, work closely with customers in the region to identify the best aircraft to suit their mission requirements.
Gulfstream’s product line, with the super-midsize G280, large-cabin and long-range G650 and G650ER, and next-generation G500, G600 and G700 (which is currently undergoing its flight-test and certification programme), offer a compelling mix of size and range to suit a wide variety of operators’ needs, whether they are flying domestically or taking trips halfway around the world.
The latest plane in your stable – the G700 – has the lowest cabin altitude in the business aviation industry. How does this help? What are its other features?
Gulfstream has been investing in passenger health for many years, and the new G700’s cabin altitude, the lowest in the industry, is the latest result of those investments. Originally announced with a cabin altitude of 3,290 feet/1,003 meters when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m, the G700 cabin altitude at the same flight level has been improved to 2,916 ft/889 m.
The low cabin altitude eases the strain on passengers’ bodies over long flights and makes breathing easier on aircraft that can fly high above commercial traffic, especially for passengers with compromised respiratory systems and other health concerns.
More than six decades of customer input culminated in the all-new G700. Customers wanted the incredible range and speed of the ultralong-range Gulfstream G650ER, but with an ever larger, more tailored cabin environment, coupled with the technologically advanced and award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck introduced on the G500 and G600. Collaboration among our industrial, interior and visualization designers ensures that our customers have the best, most customized cabin experience possible when aboard the G700. Innovations like the Gulfstream-designed circadian lighting system, all-new seating, grand suite with optional shower, wall-embedded surround sound and the G700 ultragalley, another industry best, are all features a G700 owner can expect from their experience.
What is the Gulfstream cabin experience that is so feted?
Gulfstream leads the industry in providing a healthy cabin experience with 100% fresh, never recirculated air, low cabin altitudes, whisper-quiet noise levels and an abundance of natural light, thanks to its large, panoramic windows, the largest in business aviation.
Gulfstream’s 100% fresh air system is a major differentiator, as passenger protection improves when more fresh air is provided. In our large-cabin aircraft, air is continuously replenished every two to three minutes. The amount of fresh air per person in a Gulfstream aircraft is significantly more than what is required by the FAA and is much better than other business jets.
Gulfstream has recently added even more enhancements to the signature Gulfstream cabin experience with an air ionisation system. Gulfstream’s plasma ionization system, which operates whenever the aircraft environmental control system is active, works by emitting positive and negative oxygen ions that actively seek out and inactivate harmful molecules in the air and on surfaces.
What are the benefits of new vs pre-owned acquisitions?
There are a number of benefits of investing in new aircraft versus pre-owned. Naturally, a new aircraft includes the latest technologies that enhance performance and passenger safety and comfort. The Gulfstream G500, for example, has a much more advanced flight deck, larger cabin, longer range, faster speeds, better efficiency and a better cabin environment than an older aircraft in the same class. New aircraft also offer full warranties, which means lower operating costs and less downtime for maintenance, as larger, time-consuming inspections typically occur later in the life of an aircraft. New aircraft also often come standard to meeting existing and near-term avionics mandates.
New aircraft customers can also tailor their cabin exactly the way they want with floorplans, materials, exterior paint schemes, etc., ensuring every aspect of the aircraft meets their needs and preferences. Finally, peace of mind is a key factor when considering new versus pre-owned – it can be challenging to find a well-maintained, well-operating pre-owned aircraft.
Is Gulfstream going in for sustainable aviation fuel?
Gulfstream has been among business aviation’s leaders in sustainability since 2011, when a G450 became the first business jet to cross the Atlantic on renewable fuel. Since then, we have taken additional steps to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), including becoming the first business-jet manufacturer with a dedicated supply of the fuel. We have flown more than one million nautical miles with SAF on our corporate, demonstration, customer support and flight-test fleets. Gulfstream was also the first business-jet manufacturer to offer SAF directly to customers and the first to offer customers a carbon offset programme.
We have also long been committed to being good stewards of the environment by focusing on low-noise, low-emission and fuel-efficient aircraft.