Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream welcomed Hariharan to her new role, which begins immediately. “Sustainability continues to be a major focus for our company and the business aviation industry”, he said. “Gulfstream is committed to supporting [parent company] General Dynamics’ goal of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2034, relative to 2019.”

Hariharan’s expertise will help the OEM accelerate the pace of its sustainability progress, said Burns. “We look forward to the insights and knowledge she will bring as we continue to lead the industry in our efforts.”

He added: “Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future. We are committed to doing our part in advancing the industry forward to achieve our shared sustainability goals.” 

Gulfstream’s next-generation aircraft offers fuel-efficiency gains of up to 33% over predecessor models, according to the manufacturer. The company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18% since 2014 while expanding facilities by 30%. In November 2023, Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines. 

Earlier this year, Gulfstream joined the International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) supplier assessment initiative to manage its environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk and compliance by guiding the sustainability performance improvement of its supply chain. Under the terms of this agreement, all Gulfstream suppliers will share their sustainability strategy to determine ESG risk and identify any opportunities to improve overall sustainability performance.

This voluntary programme is designed to accelerate sustainability performance and improvement within aerospace and its extended supply chain. The goal is to drive positive change and create a more sustainable and resilient supply chain, it said. 

Meanwhile, Hariharan joins Gulfstream from Haliburton where she served as the global head of sustainability for Halliburton Energy Services. In this role, she developed Halliburton’s global short and long-term sustainability strategy and oversaw governance, internal and external benchmark data, as well as engagements with internal and external stakeholders.

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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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The aircraft, which are in service with customers, were delivered within a month of achieving FAA type certification. Beginning the deliveries so soon has been described as a “milestone” for Gulfstream’s “history of raising the bar” for business aviation, said Mark Burns. 

“We appreciate the confidence our customers have demonstrated in our aircraft and look forward to continuing these deliveries in the weeks ahead,” added Burns, president of Gulfstream. 

According to Gulfstream, the G700 has the most spacious cabin in the industry. It also features the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, whisper-quiet noise levels, natural light from 20 Gulfstream oval windows and the industry’s lowest cabin altitude. 

The aircraft set more than 50 city-pair speed records prior to entering service and can fly 7,750nm (14,353km) at Mach 0.85 or 6,650nm (12,316 km) at Mach 0.90. It also the fastest in the Gulfstream fleet with a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.935.

“We are excited for our customers to experience the unparalleled G700 as we continue to deliver this exceptional aircraft around the world,” said Burns.

See our Buyer’s and Investor’s Guide to the Gulfstream G700 here.

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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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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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We know they take a lot of planning, pilots get pumped up doing them and marketing people love announcing them. But holding the speed record for a flight between Poughkeepsie, Idaho and Rovaniemi, Finland is not exciting.

It is like going to a dinner party and finding out you are sat next to the man who lay in a bath of baked beans for more than 100 hours. Yes, they have a world record, but by the main course you are desperately trying to switch places with anyone who will catch your eye. And no one will.

But occasionally, there is a record worth celebrating.

On Monday, Gulfstream flew a G600 between Savannah and London Farnborough 100% powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This is the first time any aircraft has flown transatlantic entirely powered by SAF.

The SAF was made by World Energy in Paramount, California from used cooking oil and waste animal fats (like the fats left over from Thanksgiving Turkeys). It has at least 70% lower lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions than fossil-based jet fuel.

Both the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines were 100% powered by SAF. This is significant. Because SAF is purer than fossil Jet A, it does not have aromatics or sulphur that help engine sealants swell. Data from the six-hour 56-minute flight at cold temperatures is valuable for Pratt & Whitney. While the lack of aromatics is a challenge to engine manufacturers in the short term, it is a long-term advantage as SAF burns cleaner.

It is also important that business aviation did this first. Next Tuesday, Virgin Atlantic Airways will fly from London to New York using 100% SAF. (You wait ages for one transatlantic SAF flight and then two come together.)  As the new “Climbing.Fast” industry campaign stresses, business aviation is often the testbed for all aviation. Gulfstream has done this.

“One of the keys to reaching business aviation’s long-term decarbonisation goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel,” said Mark Burns, CEO, Gulfstream.

“The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”

There is still a lot of scepticism from people in business aviation about SAF. We don’t share this. It is critical to aviation becoming carbon neutral by 2050. IATA estimates that 60% of all carbon savings will come from SAF.

More efficient air traffic control, better ground handling and new energy sources including electric aircraft and hydrogen are important (and this week saw the first hybrid short take-off and landing aircraft by Electra Aero), but SAF has to do the heavy lifting. 

While Gulfstream’s flight is a great achievement, the biggest problem for the industry is the availability of SAF. In 2022, SAF accounted for less than 1% of all jet fuel – around 300m litres.

The amount being produced by companies like World Energy and Neste is increasing, but there is a long way to go. By 2050, the industry will need 450bn litres.

The EU has also mandated that by 2030, 5% of all jet fuel needs to be SAF. This is achievable. But in 2035 it rises to 20%. Hitting this will require massive investment. By 2050, some 63% of all jet fuel in Europe must be SAF. The US government’s SAF Grand Challenge aims to produce 3bn gallons per year by 2030 and 35bn gallons by 2050.

There really needs to be a race to produce more. Maybe we need to think of a way of turning it into a world record. But remember, SAF is just pure Jet A1. No one should sit in a bath of it.

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The G600 aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines, departed from Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah and landed at Farnborough Airport, UK.

“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “One of the keys to reaching business aviation’s long-term decarbonisation goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel. The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”

The SAF was made of 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) by World Energy at their Paramount Facility, California and was delivered by World Fuel Services.

The data gathered from the flight will help gauge aircraft compatibility with low-aromatic renewable fuels, especially under cold temperatures for extended flights.

Anthony Rossi, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney said this was a major step as they continue to validate the compatibility of their engines with unblended SAF.

“We’d like to thank all our partners for their help in making this milestone flight happen, and for their ongoing partnership in collaborating with the extended SAF community to champion the aviation industry’s path to 100% SAF usage,” said Burns.

Gulfstream are also the first business jet Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to fly on 100% SAF.

This announcement comes just a week before Virgin and Rolls Royce plan to fly the first commercial aircraft trans-Atlantic flight using 100% SAF on November 28^th, taking off from Heathrow and landing at New York JFK.

SAF Investor spoke with Gene Gebolys, president & CEO, World Energy recently on The SAF Podcast, listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2202964/13894405

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Gulfstream Aerospace announced the official opening of a new paint shop hangar in Appleton, Wisconsin, which is also home to a Gulfstream Service Center and a large-cabin completions facility. The expansion is part of a multiyear plan announced in 2021 that provides customers the flexibility to experience the entire aircraft completions process in Appleton. This strategic growth has significantly increased operations and created more than 200 jobs in the region. 

“This latest expansion in Appleton is another example of our continued investment in people and facilities as we expand to meet the demands of the growing Gulfstream fleet,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Our customers already benefit from the quality and craftsmanship of our aircraft completions work and the unrivaled support we offer in Appleton. The opening of this new paint hangar means that we can provide even more convenience and options to Gulfstream customers.”

The custom-designed, 73,000-square-foot/6,782-square-meter facility has the capacity to complete the exterior paint process for up to 48 aircraft per year and represents an investment of more than $55 million. The hangar uses a proprietary paint booth design developed by Gulfstream in conjunction with Wisconsin-based paint booth manufacturer Global Finishing Solutions.  

In 2019, Gulfstream Customer Support expanded operations at the Appleton Service Center, opening a new 190,000-sq-ft/17,652-sq-m facility, an investment of approximately $40 million that increased maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities and included a new showroom to give customers greater access to Gulfstream’s design portfolio.

Other recent Gulfstream facility investments include a new aircraft completions center at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia Heights, Illinois; new repair and overhaul shops at Farnborough Service Center in England; and an all-new service center at Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. Service center expansions are also underway in Mesa, Arizona, and Savannah.

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This make not sound like a lot of extra range, but if you look at Gulfstream’s aircraft portfolio it roughly costs more than $10m for another 1,000nm. A Gulfstream G500 has a list price of $49.5m and a top range of 5,300nm. You pay $59.5m for the G600s which can fly 6,600nm.

So, the 250nm it has thrown in for the G700 is worth more than $2.5m. The G700 has a list price of $79.5m.

The extra range is not a surprise (no one like a show-off, but we predicted that this would happen almost three years ago). It does mean that the G700 edges Bombardier’s Global 7500’s 7,700nm maximum range. It is hard to think of any mission where that extra 50nm of range will make a difference, but it give the Savannah manufacturer bragging rights.

The next big announcement about the G700 will be the aircraft’s certification. Pilot certification will come 10 days after this. In July, General Dynamics, Gulfstream parent, said it was hoping to deliver 19 G700s before the end of the year.

When Gulfstream launched the aircraft at NBAA BACE in October 2019 it originally hoped to deliver the aircraft in 2022. Delays at the FAA have pushed this to the end of this year. Although this is frustrating, this is not necessarily a bad thing for customers. Gulfstream has not wasted this extra time.

In the past, the first few aircraft off the production line were often heavier and suffered from snags making them less reliable. This is why savvy buyers tended to avoid the first 50 aircraft.

Modern manufacturing and design has made this less of an issue. Now – as Gulfstream did last week –  manufacturers often announce better performance. But operators say that reliability (particularly issues with interiors) can still affect early aircraft.

When Gulfstream received type certification for the G650, the four flight-test G650s had flown 2,225 hours. The five G700 test aircraft have flown more than 4,100 hours.

To be fair, the G650 had a very good entry-into-service with customers – partly because a G650 with a fitted interior had been flying for 13 months. But the G700 has been tested even more thoroughly.

As well as the test aircraft, Gulfstream has also worked two outfitted production-test aircraft hard.

These aircraft have been used on world demo tours flying 246,000 nm and setting more than 45 speed records. Mark Burns, Gulfstream’s president, and Scott Neal, senior vice president worldwide sales, have been on many of these flights. They have personally tested the cabin for their customers.

This week Gulfstream also announced that it has lowered the G700’s cabin altitude to 2,840ft (866m) when the aircraft is flying at 41,000ft (12,497m). It says this is the lowest for all business aircraft.

“You can definitely feel the difference, not just with the cabin altitude but with the noise, 100% fresh air and the 20 windows,” Burns told CJI earlier this year.

It is worth remembering that he is comparing flying in a G700 to the G650 – with a cabin altitude of 4,100ft – and not commercial airliners. Airbus’ A350 has a cabin altitude of 5,500ft mid-flight. This is a big improvement in older aluminium tube commercial aircraft that typically have a cabin altitude of around 8,000ft.

“It really does make a difference when you arrive,” said Neal. “I have spent a lot of time on the G700 and you really can feel it when you arrive.”

The delays with certification are frustrating for both manufacturers and customers waiting for aircraft. But it means that Burns and Neal have checked the aircraft for them. And they have thrown in at least $2.5m of extra range for free.

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“Two decades after the aircraft entered service, the G550 continues to achieve in-service milestones and add to its impressive list of accolades as evidenced by this 1 millionth landing,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “This is a testament to the quality of the G550 and the technology that Gulfstream introduced on this aircraft, which paved the way for our next-generation fleet. The G550 is also backed by Gulfstream’s Customer Support worldwide network, which helps ensure continued service achievements like this one.”

The G550 pioneered Gulfstream’s Enhanced Vision System, now known as Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS), and was recognised for this  and other advances with the National Aeronautic Association’s 2003 Collier Trophy. Introduced on the G550, EFVS now is available for the G280, G650, G650ER, G400, G500 and G600. The all-new G700 and G800 feature EFVS and Synthetic Vision System on Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System to further enhance pilot situational awareness. Gulfstream was also the first original equipment manufacturer to gain FAA approval for certified operators to use EFVS for touchdown and rollout.

Equipped with two Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, the G550 can fly 6,750nm (12,501km) at Mach 0.80, putting the aircraft at the top of its class. The cabin offers multiple configurations, can seat up to 19 passengers and sleep up to eight. 

The G550 has been a key platform for special missions, said Gulfstream. Modifications have been made for a variety of government applications including aeromedical evacuation, head-of-state transport, airborne early warning, atmospheric research and maritime patrol.

The G550 entered service in 2003 and more than 600 aircraft are in service today.

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