Gulfstream Archives | Corporate Jet Investor https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/organisation/gulfstream/ Events | News | Opinions Tue, 09 Jul 2024 12:38:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Leading Edge ‘proud’ of 1,000 aircraft transactions https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/leading-edge-proud-1000-aircraft-transactions https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/leading-edge-proud-1000-aircraft-transactions#respond Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:06:13 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=150591 Reaching the milestone of 1,000 turbine aircraft transactions made for “an exciting countdown” but for Joe Carfagna Jr. and his Leading Edge Aviation Solutions team it was “business as usual” in their quest for deals and client satisfaction. Three Gulfstream deals hit the landmark for the company which was founded in 1989 by Joseph Carfgana ... Leading Edge ‘proud’ of 1,000 aircraft transactions

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Reaching the milestone of 1,000 turbine aircraft transactions made for “an exciting countdown” but for Joe Carfagna Jr. and his Leading Edge Aviation Solutions team it was “business as usual” in their quest for deals and client satisfaction.

Three Gulfstream deals hit the landmark for the company which was founded in 1989 by Joseph Carfgana Sr.

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“We have always prided ourselves as being one of the brokerage firms that’s been around the longest and this number is a testament to that,” Carfagna Jr. told Corporate Jet Investor.

“We realised 1,000 was probably something that was going to happen in the next few years so we made a big deal of it.

“It was exciting to count down as we got very close, but it was just business as usual.”

‘Can’t buy experience’

 The 998th, 999th and 1,000th transactions were for Gulfstream G450s for repeat clients.

“In 1994 when I came onboard, we were a very different company – there was no email or internet, so everything moved at a much slower pace, but the principles of what we do are still the same,” added Carfagna Jr, who is based in New Jersey, USA.

“We put a very high importance on making our clients so happy that they’re proud to refer us to their friends.”

Among the 1000 transactions, Leading Edge has completed deals on 242 Gulfstreams, 225 Cessna Citations, 131 Hawkers, 126 Bombardier Challenger and Globals and 121 Dassault Falcons.

[The secret is] doing things methodically and having good people. You can’t buy experience,” said Carfgana Jr.

Jack Nicklaus

His father began his life in business aviation in 1967 when he joined Bill Lear to sell new airplanes in the north east of the US. One of his first sales was to the golfer Jack Nicklaus. Carfagna Sr. set up Executive Air Fleet (EAF) in 1970 and then Wings Aviation International in 1989, which eventually became Leading Edge Aviation Solutions.

Carfagna Jr. can still remember the first deal he did after joining his father in 1994.

“It was the sale of a Citation 3,” he says. “It was a moment that I won’t forget any time soon. The person we sold it to, we have sold several more airplanes to over the years.”

After all this time in the industry, Carfagna Jr. says he is rarely fazed by anything. “There really isn’t much we haven’t seen – we’ve bought and sold airplanes all over the world, of all different types and as a result when you’ve been around this long not much comes as a surprise,” he says.

‘Needs to be sold’

Of all the deals, though, one particular transaction sticks out. “We were negotiating a deal on the sale of an airplane in September 2008, right after the financial crash, and the parties were arguing over who was to get the china and flatware in the airplane,” he says.

“I advised the client to give them everything they wanted because it was going to be worth a lot less money in a week. I think we saved the client $8m over that. If they had deliberated another few days, it probably would have fallen apart. I just remember thinking, ‘This airplane needs to be sold, the money needs to be wired asap or this deal will never happen.’”

Carfagna Jr. is “fascinated” by the technological advancements in airplanes but after hanging some old sales posters at his offices he notes that manufacturers’ ambitions haven’t changed.

“The vintage ads for airplanes in the 60s and 70s all said the same thing, ‘We will fly you more efficiently, more quietly, at a cheaper cost and faster than our competitors and that’s still what they’re striving to do. They’re just getting better and better at it.”

 For Carfagna Jr., business aviation is in the blood but while he is proud of the legacy it is the future transactions that drive him.

 “Winning the next deal is something that motivates me, all of us, and creating a happy client,” said Carfagna Jr. “Those two things are the primary drivers of what makes me tick and keep doing this.”

 

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Qatar Executive takes first deliveries of ‘highly anticipated’ Gulfstream G700 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/qatar-executive-takes-first-deliveries-of-highly-anticipated-gulfstream-g700 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/qatar-executive-takes-first-deliveries-of-highly-anticipated-gulfstream-g700#respond Sat, 25 May 2024 14:11:04 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=opinion&p=150572 In the early summer Doha heat, the all-new Gulfstream G700 cut a cool figure. Qatar Executive has just taken delivery of the first two of nine G700s – A7-CHA and A7-CHB – which it unveiled at an event in Doha this week. As the worldwide exclusive commercial operator, Qatar Executive will be the first carrier ... Qatar Executive takes first deliveries of ‘highly anticipated’ Gulfstream G700

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In the early summer Doha heat, the all-new Gulfstream G700 cut a cool figure.

Qatar Executive has just taken delivery of the first two of nine G700s – A7-CHA and A7-CHB – which it unveiled at an event in Doha this week. As the worldwide exclusive commercial operator, Qatar Executive will be the first carrier to offer the aircraft to charter customers. Expressions of interest are growing fast and the new G700 fleet will be ready to begin commercial operations within the next fortnight, according to Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, group CEO, Qatar Airways. 

“Today we welcome the industry’s highest performance, ultra-long-range business jet to the Qatar Executive fleet,” said Al-Meer. “We are proud to enhance our existing fleet of 15 Gulfstream G650ER aircraft to include the pinnacle of business aviation excellence and look forward to seeing our guests on board soon.”

The G700 is fitted with Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, bringing with it greater efficiency and more range than its predecessors. It’s originally quoted range of 7,500nm was upgraded to 7,750nm in September 2023. It is the fastest Gulfstream business jet ever produced with a top speed of Mach 0.935. The aircraft also boasts a balanced field length take-off distance of 5,995ft (1,827m) and a landing distance of 3,150 ft (960m) at sea level. 

‘Aircraft delivered using SAF’

The G700 is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ready. In fact the first G700 was delivered to Qatar Executive from Gulfstream’s HQ in Georgia, US fuelled by a SAF blend. “From our vantage point, sustainable aviation fuel is one of the key points that will help us achieve industry sustainability goals,” Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream told CJI. “We are offering all new customers of the G700 the chance to have their aircraft delivered using SAF, just as we fly it as part of our test programme.”

Inside, the G700 features the industry’s lowest cabin pressure altitude making flights at 41,000ft feel like 2,840ft. The cabin itself is split across four individual living areas including a private rear stateroom with a permanent fixed bed – all naturally lit via 20 trademark oval windows. Also, an ionising system for cabin air and 100% fresh air replenishment every three minutes provide the highest air quality ever in a business jet, according to Gulfstream. 

“Qatar Executive has been a valued Gulfstream customer for nearly 10 years,” said Burns. “We are honoured to have them as our international partner for the launch and first deliveries of the all-new G700. We look forward to growing their fleet in the months ahead.”

The G700 joins Qatar Executive’s fleet which includes 15 Gulfstream G650ERs, two Bombardier Global 5000s and an ACJ CRT. Keen to emphasise the growth outlook of Qatar Executive, the new aircraft are an addition not a replacement, according to Al-Meer. In addition to A7-CHA and A7-CHB, two further aircraft are in the final stages of acceptance and expected to arrive in Qatar in the coming weeks. Once all nine deliveries have been completed, Qatar Executive’s Gulfstream fleet will comprise 24 aircraft.

Fifa World Cup

Numerous airlines have tried before – including Delta and Lufthansa – to establish an executive division. Most have failed. But 15 years on from launching at the Paris Air Show in 2009, Qatar Executive says it is going from strength to strength. After seeing huge increases in traffic as a result of the 2022 Fifa World Cup, the subsidiary reported a 49% year-on-year increase in commercial revenue growth in 2023. 

“I want to be as humble as possible,” said Al-Meer. “But especially when it comes to high-level customers we understand this better than other businesses because we have been working with high-level customers for a very long time. We understand their needs. 

“We also have a base of very loyal returning customers, who often travel with the same cabin crew and who in turn understand their needs and requirements,” he added.

One of Qatar’s G700s (A7-CHB) will be on display at next week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2024) in Geneva. It will be the only Gulfstream aircraft exhibited at the show this year after the OEM decided to pull out.

“Every two to three years we assess the most effective use of our marketing,” explained Burns. “We have decided on a strategy that includes more personal shows in regions like here in the Gulf, the wider Middle East and Asia.”

The G700 was due to be delivered in 2023, but delays with the FAA certification programme saw deliveries pushed out to this year. However, good things come to those who wait. Doha’s main airport Hamad International was six years overdue when it opened in 2014. Now, the third busiest airport in the Middle East, it just took the tile for World’s Best Airport 2024 at the World Airport Awards.

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Volato posts $17.4m loss; delivery delays shrink revenue in Q1 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/volato-posts-17-4m-loss-delivery-delays-shrink-revenue https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/volato-posts-17-4m-loss-delivery-delays-shrink-revenue#respond Thu, 16 May 2024 10:52:28 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=150388 Private aviation company and largest operator of HondaJet in the US Volato announced financial results for the first quarter of 2024 posting a net loss of $17.4m. The company did not book any revenue from aircraft sales owing to push back in delivery dates by OEMs due to supply chain challenges. However, the company saw ... Volato posts $17.4m loss; delivery delays shrink revenue in Q1

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Private aviation company and largest operator of HondaJet in the US Volato announced financial results for the first quarter of 2024 posting a net loss of $17.4m.

The company did not book any revenue from aircraft sales owing to push back in delivery dates by OEMs due to supply chain challenges.

However, the company saw strong growth of 72% year-over-year in aircraft usage revenue reaching $11.5m from $6.7m in the corresponding period last year. This was due to 39% growth in flight hours and 7%YoY increase in blended yield. In addition, the company achieved demand mix of 50% owner and 50% program & ad hoc in the first quarter.

Meanwhile, revenue from the managed aircraft segment nearly halved to $1.7m from $3.3m a year ago.

Overall, the company’s first quarter revenue stood at $13.2m, down 16%YoY from $15.7m.

“While OEM aircraft delivery delays put pressure on our revenue in the first quarter, we achieved strong year-over-year growth across our key metrics as we executed on our strategy to drive more favorable demand mix and higher yield per flight hour,” said Matt Liotta, co-founder and CEO, Volato.

In terms of expenses, the company’s cost of services remained relatively stable at $17.5m from a year ago while the first quarter SG&A expenses witnessed a sharp uptick of 89%YoY to $11.7m from $6.2m in Q1 23.  

Volato ended the quarter with $6.4m of cash, and cash equivalents.

The company said it is optimistic on deliveries in the second quarter. “Given the well-known OEM supply chain challenges which have pushed back delivery dates, we continue to expect the delivery of 8 to 10 HondaJets but now expect delivery of two Gulfstream G280s in 2024 [instead of four announced earlier]. These deliveries, including 2-3 HondaJets which we are scheduled to receive in the second quarter, will provide us with an immediate cash benefit as we execute on our backlog of fractional sales,” said CEO Liotta.

Subsequent to quarter end, Volato also signed a term sheet for $14.5m in financing, including a $13.0m financing to unlock deposits for its Gulfstream G280 orders and a $1.5m equity commitment.

“Our aircraft deliveries in 2024 will provide additional cash as well as more capacity to grow our network and better leverage our cost base. With an expected revenue of over $120m this year from fractional sales alone, continued revenue growth from aircraft usage and our cost-savings measures, we expect that we can achieve positive gross margin and EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2024,” said the company’s CFO Mark Heinen.

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General Dynamics Aerospace revenues jump 10%YoY https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/general-dynamics-aerospace-revenues-jump-10yoy https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/general-dynamics-aerospace-revenues-jump-10yoy#respond Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:37:13 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=150181 General Dynamics reported financial results for first quarter of 2024 wherein it reported revenue from its aerospace segment at $2.1bn, up 10% year-over-year from $1.9bn in the same period last year. “In the Aerospace segment, the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the Gulfstream G700 has enabled us to begin customer deliveries. This is ... General Dynamics Aerospace revenues jump 10%YoY

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General Dynamics reported financial results for first quarter of 2024 wherein it reported revenue from its aerospace segment at $2.1bn, up 10% year-over-year from $1.9bn in the same period last year.

“In the Aerospace segment, the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the Gulfstream G700 has enabled us to begin customer deliveries. This is a strong start to 2024 and we remain confident in our outlook,” said Phebe N. Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer, General Dynamics.

On the book-to-bill, in the Aerospace segment, the company received $2.4bn worth of orders in the quarter under review, growing the segment’s backlog to $20.5bn, up 6.2% from the same quarter last year. Aerospace book-to-bill was 1.2-to-1 for the quarter.

In terms of deliveries, the aerospace manufacturer delivered 21 large-cabin and three mid-cabin aircraft in the first quarter of 2024.

Overall, General Dynamics posted diluted earnings per share of $2.88, an improvement of 9.1% from $2.64 a year ago. This came on the back of 8.6% growth in revenue to $10.7bn and healthy operating margin of $1.03bn (9.65% of revenue). On the bottom line, the company’s net earnings during the quarter stood at $799m.

“Our businesses delivered solid operating results in the quarter, growing revenue and backlog, while expanding margins, even as we awaited G700 certification,” added Novakovic.

General Dynamics’ consolidated book-to-bill ratio was 1-to-1 for the quarter. Company-wide backlog clocked in at $93.7bn, up 4.4% from the same period last year.

On April 23, one day before the announcement of first quarter results, the company announced that it has delivered first two G700 aircraft to customers.

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Rolls-Royce’s Pearl https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/rolls-royces-pearl https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/rolls-royces-pearl#respond Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:23:45 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=opinion&p=150006 Rolls-Royce has a tradition of naming its engines after rivers. But only keen British fisherman know the Dart, Trent, Tay, Derwent and Welland well. With its Pearl engine family, it managed to keep everyone happy. It has never said if the engine is named after the Chinese Pearl River or the one that flows through ... Rolls-Royce’s Pearl

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Rolls-Royce has a tradition of naming its engines after rivers. But only keen British fisherman know the Dart, Trent, Tay, Derwent and Welland well.

With its Pearl engine family, it managed to keep everyone happy. It has never said if the engine is named after the Chinese Pearl River or the one that flows through Mississippi and Louisiana. Canada, Costa Rica and New York state also have Pearl Rivers or Rio Perlas so it could be theirs.

This week Rolls-Royce started flight-testing the Pearl 10X which will power Dassault’s flagship Falcon 10X. The Pearl 10X is the most powerful business aircraft engine the manufacturer has ever made. 

A Pearl 10X test engine has been fitted to Rolls-Royce’s Boeing 747 flying test bed. Plane spotters wanting to see the five-engine aircraft need to go to Tucson, Arizona. The testing includes engine performance and handling checks at various speeds and altitudes, in-flight relights, tests of the nacelle’s anti-icing system and fan vibration tests at various altitudes. It has already been tested for more than 2,300 hours on the ground and can use 100% sustainable aviation fuel.

Rolls-Royce and Dassault got very close to working together in the past. But this will be the first Rolls-Royce engine to power a Dassault aircraft.

“The market success of the Pearl engine family has been outstanding,” said Dr Rob Watson, president civil aerospace, Rolls-Royce at the company’s capital markets day last year. It has been key to its business aviation division. Before the launch of the engine in 2018 there was talk of Rolls-Royce losing market share.

Textron had selected Snecma’s Silvercrest for its Hemisphere and in 2013 Dassault chose it for its planned Falcon 5X. Neither aircraft happened, but in 2014 Gulfstream chose Pratt & Whitney engines for the G500 and G600. This was a blow as the company had powered every large-cabin Gulfstream since the G1 in 1958.

Rolls-Royce announced the Pearl family when the engine was picked for Bombardier’s Global 5500 and Global 6500 aircraft. It then went on to win hard-fought campaigns for Gulfstream’s newly certificated G700, the upcoming G800 and Dassault’s Falcon 10X. Rolls-Royce says it had 70% market share in the large business jet market in 2022 and 85% in the ultra-long-range market. 

Large commercial engines that power widebody airliners dominate Rolls-Royce’s commercial aviation division – making up 72% of its 2023 aerospace sales. But business aviation is the next biggest part with 21% of sales. Tufan Erginbilgic, who became Rolls-Royce’s CEO in January 2023, has stressed the importance of business aircraft to the company. 

Rolls-Royce is ramping up production. It delivered 165 business aviation engines in 2022, 223 in 2023 and it is aiming for close to 300 in 2024. As new aircraft with its engines are delivered it will, of course, see flight hours rise and aim to enrol new customers in its Corporate Care programme.

The newly certificated Gulfstream G700 will drive a lot of this as the Savannah manufacturer ramps up delivery. Gulfstream is planning to deliver 50 G700s in 2024.

At its investor day last year, the company forecast 8-9% annual delivery growth for its business aviation engines. This is compared with 3% for the large aircraft market.

The Falcon 10X still has a way to go before it is certificated, but Rolls-Royce should still celebrate the start of flight testing. If anyone is looking for a venue, there are hundreds of Pearl River Chinese restaurants to choose from.

 

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ACAM adds Gulfstream G550 to fleet https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/acam-adds-g550-to-fleet https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/acam-adds-g550-to-fleet#respond Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:05:16 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=149843 Asian Corporate Aviation Management Pte. Ltd. (ACAM) has added a Gulfstream G550 to its extensive fleet. The company will be responsible for the full turn-key management and operations of the aircraft as part of its rapid expansion in the region. The company has a global fleet of more than 40 aircraft across its southeast Asia, ... ACAM adds Gulfstream G550 to fleet

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Asian Corporate Aviation Management Pte. Ltd. (ACAM) has added a Gulfstream G550 to its extensive fleet.

The company will be responsible for the full turn-key management and operations of the aircraft as part of its rapid expansion in the region.

The company has a global fleet of more than 40 aircraft across its southeast Asia, Middle East, India and Pacific operations.

“We are extremely honoured and proud to have been awarded this contract to manage this beautiful G550 on behalf of the owner,” said ACAM CEO Darren Broderick.

ACAM, which Broderick founded in 2010, is the largest privately owned corporate aviation management company in southeast Asia and the Pacific. 

It recently bought German flight inspection operator Svege as part of its plan to expand into Europe.

 

 

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FAA certificates Gulfstream G700 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/faa-certificates-gulfstream-g700 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/faa-certificates-gulfstream-g700#respond Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:18:24 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=149869 The Gulfstream G700 received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification today. Gulfstream has also said that the aircraft also has a shorter take-off and landing than originally promised. “We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “I’d like to thank our world-class team ... FAA certificates Gulfstream G700

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The Gulfstream G700 received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification today.

Gulfstream has also said that the aircraft also has a shorter take-off and landing than originally promised.

“We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “I’d like to thank our world-class team of flight test, certification and engineering professionals, along with the many others at Gulfstream who have contributed to this accomplishment.”

The aircraft now has a balanced field length takeoff distance of 5,995 feet/1,827 meters and a landing distance of 3,150 ft/960 m at sea-level. Gulfstream had already announced improved range, speed and cabin altitude in September 2023.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to the FAA G700 certification team for their support,” said Burns. “On behalf of Gulfstream’s more than 20,000 employees worldwide, I am proud and excited to begin our G700 customer deliveries.”

In July 2023 Gulfstream had hoped to deliver 19 G700s before the end of the year. It is now targeting 50 deliveries for 2024.

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CJIQ124: Avfuel, BBJ Select and connectivity research all feature https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/cjiq124-avfuel-bbj-select-and-connectivity-research-all-feature https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/cjiq124-avfuel-bbj-select-and-connectivity-research-all-feature#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:05:24 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=news&p=149604 A profile of aviation fuel company Avfuel, a photographic tour of the BBJ Select business liner and our latest connectivity research all feature in the latest edtion of Corporate Jet Investor Quarterly. Also included is an interview with Darren Broderick, CEO at Asian Corporate Aviation Management and an investigation into why VIP helicopter flights are ... CJIQ124: Avfuel, BBJ Select and connectivity research all feature

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A profile of aviation fuel company Avfuel, a photographic tour of the BBJ Select business liner and our latest connectivity research all feature in the latest edtion of Corporate Jet Investor Quarterly. Also included is an interview with Darren Broderick, CEO at Asian Corporate Aviation Management and an investigation into why VIP helicopter flights are not more popular with business jet travellers.

Craig Sincock, president and CEO of Avfuel traces the start of his aviation career back to his first day at college. Happening to share a room with two pilots, Sincock taught his roommates tennis and skiing in exchange for flying lessons. Now, his company Avfuel fuels one-in-three business jets every day and employs a team of 1,000 people. We trace how Sincock, aided by family and colleagues built the company based on his principle: “Aufuel’s business is less about fuel and more about simplifying things for its customers.”

From fuel to one of the aircraft it powers. Boeing’s new BBJ Select jet is the easiest way to acquire this popular business liner. We take a virtual tour of the aircraft’s luxurious interior with this photo feature guide. Choosing the interior for an 884sqft (82sqm) Boeing Business Jet 737-7 is the equivalent of outfitting a whole apartment. The manufacturer’s BBJ Select product is intended for people who want an aircraft with a streamlined design process.

A streamlined service from business jet to VIP helicopter transfer flights is growing in popularity – a bit. But some high-net worth individuals are still wary of choosing rotary transportation. We look at the advantages and how companies such as HeliFlite, Flexjet Helicopters and Castle Air are reassuring prospective clients.

After rotary aircraft we move to tiltwings, with a feature looking at how new life is being breathed into an old design. Peter Schmidt, chief operating officer and co-founder of Transcend tells us how h plans to whisk passengers from Manhattan to Boston in just 32 minutes for a ticket price of $283 – cheaper than an Uber.

Business jet connectivity is the theme of new CJI research designed to understand how owners and operators select a solution for their aircraft. Consistency and reliability are the top two factors jet owners and operators take into consideration before equipping their aircraft with a connectivity solution, according to our research, conducted in partnership with Intelsat. Read more about these influencers and the third factor guiding connectivity choices in our feature.

Meanwhile, satisfied clients are the main motivation for Darren Broderick, CEO at Asian Corporate Aviation Management (ACAM). An aviator with more than 18,000 hours in his log books and a rescue award, Broderick has put his flying career on hold to take ACAM on “a rocket ride” towards the West. “It’s about success, it’s not about money. Success and customer satisfaction, they are my mottos,” he tells us.

Elsewhere in the latest edition of Corporate Jet Investor Quarterly, Gulfstream president, Mark Burns shares his excitement about the first transatlantic flight fueled entirely by SAF in a G600. Plus our Jet Data feature includes three new business jets: the Boeing Select, the Cessna Citation CJ3 New Gen and the Honda Echelon.

Finally, in our Life in seven questions feature, Iris Riesen, accountable manager at the Zurich-based Cat Aviation explains how the smell of kerosene and the excitement of business aviation lured her back into the industry after a spell away.

Read the digital version of Corporate Jet Investor Quarterly here and sign up for your free print copy here. And if you know colleagues who might enjoy reading our business aviation insights, please share these links with them. If you would like us to tackle a particular topic in our next edition, please let us know. Thank you.

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Nothing special about FAA G700 Special Conditions https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/nothing-special-about-faa-g700-special-conditions https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/opinion/nothing-special-about-faa-g700-special-conditions#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:51:14 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=opinion&p=149132 A Gulfstream G700 will be proudly on display at the Singapore Airshow next week. Back at headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, at least another 15 are sitting ready for customers as soon as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the aircraft. On Tuesday the FAA issued what it calls a Final Special Condition regarding the ... Nothing special about FAA G700 Special Conditions

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A Gulfstream G700 will be proudly on display at the Singapore Airshow next week.

Back at headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, at least another 15 are sitting ready for customers as soon as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the aircraft.

On Tuesday the FAA issued what it calls a Final Special Condition regarding the electric flight control system for the G700 and G800. The regulator said that the aircraft’s electronic flight control is a “novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes”.

It is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is just part of the fun of certification. 

This has attracted a lot of headlines, but it is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is just part of the fun of certification. It also demonstrates how airworthiness standards need updating. 

Pretty much every modern aircraft with fly-by-wire controls uses this Special Condition. Gulfstream has already delivered more than 800 aircraft (G650s, G500s and G600s) that used it. 

The FAA uses Special Conditions to establish a safety equivalent to legacy regulations. They then become part of the aircraft’s certification. The case with the G700/G800 shows how it is time for the regulations to be updated.

If you want more detail on the G700/G800 Special Condition, you can find it here. You can even make comments to the FAA about it if you feel strongly. The deadline for making these is March 29th, 2024. It is worth stressing that the aircraft can still be certified while the comment period is still open. 

Special Conditions are common with new aircraft certifications,” says David Hernandez, shareholder, Vedder Price and a former FAA employee. “The only problem is whether the FAA has the personnel and resources to evaluate it in a timely matter.”

In July 2023 Gulfstream had hoped to deliver 19 G700s before the end of the year. It is now targeting 50 for 2024.

The primary role of the FAA is safety. No one can criticise it for taking certification seriously. But this Special Condition shows that regulations desperately need updating. Gulfstream applied for G700 certification on December 31st, 2019 (by amending its GVI certificate).  

It is also a warning for anyone in advanced air mobility looking to use existing regulations. Gulfstream has been getting aircraft certificated since 1959. 

G700 Certification is getting closer, but owners want things to happen faster. That is why they ordered an aircraft that can fly at Mach 0.935.

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Gulfstream G800: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/aircraft/gulfstream-g800-buyers-investors-guide/ https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/aircraft/gulfstream-g800-buyers-investors-guide/#respond Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:01:11 +0000 https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/?post_type=aircraft&p=148114 A guide for buyers and investors in the Gulfstream G800 range of business jets. Pros:  Competing at the forefront of business jets, the G800’s flight capabilities make it one of the most impressive business jets available – particularly as it has the lowest list price of any ultra-long range business aircraft.   Cons:    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ... Gulfstream G800: Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide

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A guide for buyers and investors in the Gulfstream G800 range of business jets.

Pros: 

Competing at the forefront of business jets, the G800’s flight capabilities make it one of the most impressive business jets available – particularly as it has the lowest list price of any ultra-long range business aircraft.

 

Cons: 

 

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First announced in October 2021 and with deliveries expected to start in H1 2023, the G800 is the flagship aircraft for Gulfstream – the renowned Savannah, Georgia based Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). 

 

Cabin

The 16 large oval windows that make the aircraft unmistakably a Gulfstream, are one of the standout features of the cabin.

The G800 retains the original interior dimensions of the G650ER: 6 ft 3 in (1.91m) in high, 8 ft 2 in (2.49m) wide, and a length of 46 ft 10 in (14.27m) excluding the baggage compartment. 

These dimensions provide a substantial amount of room for passengers to travel comfortably on even the longest of journeys – but other ultra-long range aircraft such as the Falcon 10x offer an even larger cabin.

Depending on the cabin layout, the G800 can seat up to 19 passengers and sleep up to 10.  The cabin includes a forward and aft lavatory – as well as four distinct zones including the forward galley that can be configured with a dedicated crew compartment.

Most G800’s are likely to be configured to carry between 15 and 17 passengers with at least one three-person divan and a set of four seats in a club suite configuration.

The cabin benefits from a cabin altitude of 2,916 ft at a cabin altitude of 41,000 sq ft. The lower the cabin altitude, the more oxygen is in the cabin – making passengers feel more comfortable during flight – and more refreshed once the aircraft has reached its destination. The cabin also features plasma-ionisation to purify the 100% fresh air that is renewed every two to three minutes within the cabin.

 

Flight Performance

Like other ultra-long range business jets, the G800 has a maximum cruise altitude of 51,000 ft, which is c.10,000 ft higher than the maximum operating altitude of commercial airliners. 

The higher the maximum cruise altitude, the easier it is to fly above weather and other air traffic – reducing the potential for routing delays when in flight. 

Speed

The G800 has a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925 (709 mph / 1,141 kmph) 

1.5 hours on flights longer than 6,500 nm/12,038 km (Time savings based on difference between traveling at Mach 0.80 and Mach 0.90).

Range

OEMs are in a perpetual race to build the furthest flying purpose-built business aircraft – with Gulfstream and Bombardier in particular going head-to-head to hold this title. With a theoretical range of 8,000nm (9,206 miles / 14,816km) – the G800 currently shares this title with the Bombardier Global 8000.

This range theoretically allows passengers to fly non-stop between city pairs such as Dubai and Honolulu, Hong Kong and Houston, and London and Perth. This range based on eight passengers, four crew and fuel reserves – however the range for actual flights will be impacted by the speed the aircraft flies at, air traffic control delays, and weather (particularly head winds). And the vast majority of real life missions will also be significantly shorter. 

Engines

The G800 is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, which are a stretched variant of the Rolls-Royce BR725 engines that power the Gulfstream G650. The engines use efficient engine cores and a new low-pressure system – which increases take-off thrust by 8%  at 18,250lb compared with the BR725 engine.

The engine offers a 12% better thrust-to-weight ratio and 5% higher efficiency, while maintaining its class-leading low noise and emissions performance. All this while propelling customers nearly as fast as the speed of sound.

Airfield Performance

6,000 ft (1,829m)

 

Flying 

Avionics Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck (Ten touch-screen displays—the most extensive use in business aviation—work in sync with Phase-of-Flight intelligence to reduce the number of switches in the flight deck.)

Active control sidesticks (increase nonverbal communication between pilots through tactile cues)

Combined Vision System

Dual Heads Up Displays

Fly-by-wire

 

 

Buying / Investing 

Priced at $71.5m

 

Owning 

 

 

 

Hard Facts

Flight Performance

 

Cabin Facts

 

Airfield Performance

 

Investing / Owning

Latest News 

Gulfstream Aerospace delivered 111 business aircraft in 2023,  89 large cabin  and 22 mid cabin aircraft. In Q4, Gulfstream delivered 39 aircraft, 32 large cabin and 7 mid cabin aircraft

General Dynamics aerospace revenues soar to $2.7bn

More Gulfstream Guides:

G700

G650

G650ER

G600

G550

G500

G400

G280

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