Gulfstream Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of G550 Certification

Aug. 14, 2013
Aug. 14 marks the 10th anniversary of the large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550 receiving its type and production certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil, August 14, 2013 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today marked the 10th anniversary of the large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550 receiving its type and production certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration. It was the first time in Gulfstream history that an aircraft received both certifications on the same day.

“The G550, like its predecessor the GV, has been a history-making aircraft,” said Scott Neal, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Gulfstream. “It was the first aircraft in civil aviation to offer integrated modular avionics through its PlaneViewTM flight deck to improve pilot situational awareness. It also was the first to debut synthetic vision, an industry-leading safety enhancement.”

The G550 was also the first to offer Gulfstream PlaneConnectTM, a highly advanced system that automatically transmits reports on the aircraft’s condition to maintenance experts on the ground, enabling the speedy resolution of any maintenance issues that may arise.

Gulfstream introduced the G550 on Oct. 9, 2000. The GV, predecessor to the G550, rolled out in September 1995. The aircraft, capable of flying 6,500 nm (12,038 km) nonstop and at speeds up to Mach 0.885, established the ultra-long-range market segment. Its descendant, the G550, is equally impressive, capable of flying 6,750 nm (12,501 km) at long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.80. Together, the aircraft have set more than 60 world records.

With more than 600 GV/G550 aircraft in service, Gulfstream has delivered more ultra-long range business jets than any other manufacturer. One of the reasons for its popularity is that it remains an extremely reliable aircraft, currently operating at an NBAA dispatch reliability rate of 99.9 percent. Over the past 15 years, the GV family of in-service aircraft, certified in 55 countries, has completed more than 800,000 takeoffs and landings and has accumulated nearly 2 million flight hours. The GV fleet leader has flown more than 17,400 flight hours and completed more than 7,900 landings.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD),
designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,100 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the new large cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultralong-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 13,500 people at 12 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.