SAVANNAH, Ga., March 22, 2012 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Elite interior package, which was inspired by the company’s all-new ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650. The certificate clears the way for the optional interior upgrade, which includes a streamlined passenger service unit, fully loaded electronic seats and the Gulfstream Cabin Management System (GCMS), to be installed on customer G550 and G450 aircraft.
“Gulfstream’s leadership in electronic design means we can provide the best and latest technology to our customers,” said Bob Geary, director, Research and Development, Final Phase, Gulfstream. “With the Elite interior, passengers can have total control over their environment thanks to touch-screen-based wireless handhelds that are part of the Gulfstream Cabin Management System.”
The Elite package features leather ledges, less veneer and more high-gloss, painted surfaces within the cabin. The sidewall tables in the club seating area can be electronically activated, and ambient LED lighting, provided throughout the interior, accents the edges of the curved credenza, the table box and the galley. Lighting is automatically activated in the drawers, cabinets and closets for easy accessibility.
The air return duct and the passenger service unit are now incorporated into one unit, and a racetrack accent – featuring French stitching – runs the length of the aircraft’s lower sidewall, emphasizing the width. For maximum comfort, the seats come equipped with telescoping headrests, flexible wings, curving “waterfall” leg rests, electric lumbar controls with optional heat and massage, and one-touch full-flat berthing.
The galley and annex were reconfigured to remind passengers of their kitchens at home, with a stainless-steel-trimmed appliance stack with two coffee makers, a microwave and a convection oven. Gulfstream’s industrial design team also incorporated hinged doors on the crystal-storage unit to double as an added work surface. Closet space that was previously accessible only through the lavatory has been re-engineered to be part of the galley.
“The Elite option also includes GCMS, “which started with the goal of adding automatic redundancy to cabin systems and was fleshed out with input from our customer advisory board made up of operators, maintenance professionals and flight attendants,” said Geary.
Receiving the STC for the Elite option means that GCMS, a key element of the interior upgrade, can also be installed on the G650 and G280 aircraft, which are expected to enter service in the second quarter of this year.
"Various off-the-shelf personal handheld devices, such as an iPod, iPad or an Android device can be used to control the system,” Geary said. “Once the GCMS app has been downloaded and the device taken aboard a GCMS-equipped aircraft, the application adapts itself based on the configuration of the specific aircraft. This allows customers to have one software program and use the same handheld devices across an entire fleet of Gulfstream products with different interior systems and options.”
The Gulfstream-owned design makes software changes easier, faster and less expensive for customers. The system has a dedicated support team comprising project managers, procurement specialists, engineers and quality professionals that act as a turnkey supplier to Gulfstream. While GCMS is standard on the G650 and G280, it is offered as an option for the G550 and G450.
