Leaving a Bright Sustainability Trail

Sustainability is becoming not just the talk of the town but the drill of the business going forward in the business aviation industry and Gulfstream is leaving no stone unturned to mark its place amongst the leading sustainable players. Gulfstream Aerospace recently received four National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Sustainable Flight Department Accreditations.

The newly established programme recognises Gulfstream for sustainability leadership across locations. This programme was launched in 2022 by NBAA to recognise “business aviation entities meeting exceptional environmental sustainability standards”. Ever since the industry pledged the target of achieving net zero carbondioxide emissions by 2050, NBAA has been even more proactive towards encouraging and supporting industry initiatives through such programmes.

“We appreciate the partnership with NBAA to recognise our sustainability efforts,” said Mark Burns, President, Gulfstream. “These accreditations encompass our holistic commitment to leading our industry toward its goals for carbon neutrality, and we are proud to be the first original equipment manufacturer to be identified for these efforts across all four categories — flight, ground support, operations and infrastructure.”

Prior to the accreditation, Gulfstream also became the industry’s first business aircraft original equipment manufacturer to fly on 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The flight took place on a Gulfstream G650 from Gulfstream’s worldwide headquarters in Savannah and was flown in partnership with engine supplier Rolls-Royce on the G650 BR725 engine.

“THESE ACCREDITATIONS ENCOMPASS OUR HOLISTIC COMMITMENT TO LEADING OUR INDUSTRY TOWARD ITS GOALS FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE FIRST ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER TO BE IDENTIFIED FOR THESE EFFORTS ACROSS ALL FOUR CATEGORIES — FLIGHT, GROUND SUPPORT, OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.”
—MARK BURNS, PRESIDENT, GULFSTREAM

“At Gulfstream, leading our industry closer to decarbonisation is a long-standing priority, and testing, evaluating and promoting new developments in SAF takes us another step closer to that goal,” said Burns. “Gulfstream has long prioritised sustainable products and practices through innovations in aerodynamics, aircraft technologies, engineering, manufacturing and infrastructure, as well as in facilities operations and our investments in SAF research and development.”

Gulfstream’s sustainability strategy encompasses three pillars — energy and emissions; operations; and culture and learning — and supports industry goals established by the NBAA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The goals are a 2 per cent improvement in fuel-efficiency per year from 2010 to 2020; carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onward; and net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

The SAF that was used in the test consisted of two components: HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids), produced from waste fat and plant oils by low-carbon fuel specialist World Energy in Paramount, California, and SAK (Synthesised Aromatic Kerosene) made from plant-based sugars by Wisconsin-based Virent Inc.

This in-development and fully sustainable fuel eliminates the need for the addition of further petroleum-based components and enables a 100 per cent drop-in SAF that can be used in existing jet engines and infrastructure without any modifications, the company explained. This sustainable fuel has the potential to reduce net CO₂ life cycle emissions by nearly 80 per cent compared with conventional jet fuel, with the possibility of further reductions.

In addition, Gulfstream highlighted its facilities that include more than 2.2 million square feet of green buildings both in the US and the UK. The company also underlined that its increased focus on sustainable operations has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 18 per cent since 2014 while expanding facilities by 30 per cent.

“THE G700 WORLD TOUR WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. SHOWCASING THE OUTFITTED AIRCRAFT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND PROSPECTS AROUND THE WORLD BOLSTERED THE ALREADY STRONG DEMAND WE ARE SEEING FOR THE G700.”
—MARK BURNS, PRESIDENT, GULFSTREAM

With over 3,000 aircraft in service around the world, Gulfstream ensured that together with its parent company General Dynamics, it is consistently investing in the future, dedicating resources to researching and developing innovative new aircraft, technologies and services. With a fleet that includes the super-midsize Gulfstream G280, the high-performing Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER, and a next-generation family of aircraft including the all-new Gulfstream G400, the award-winning Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600, the flagship Gulfstream G700 and the ultralongrange Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream offers an aircraft for every mission.

G700 WORLD TOUR

Following the accreditation, Gulfstream also announced that the Gulfstream G700 achieved 25 speed records on the recently completed G700 world tour. Gulfstream flew two fully outfitted G700 production test aircraft to more than 20 countries across six continents to demonstrate the aircraft’s performance capabilities and the flexibility and comfort of the most spacious cabin in the industry. Gulfstream had announced the extensive world tour in October 2022. The G700 world tour commenced directly after the two aircraft appeared at the 2022 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and built on the test programme’s impressive real-world performance capabilities, which already include eight international city-pair speed records.

In total, the two G700 outfitted aircraft traveled 53,882 nautical miles/99,789 kilometers over more than 180 hours of flying. The world tour speed records are pending approval by the US National Aeronautic Association and Fédération AéronautiqueInternationale in Switzerland for recognition as world records. Gulfstream listed some notable record runs achieved by the G700:

• Savannah to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 12 hours, 36 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90 to begin the international portion of the tour
• Istanbul, Turkey, to Van Don International Airport in Vietnam, in 9 hours, 2 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90
• Riyadh to Melbourne, Australia, in 13 hours, 39 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.87
• Christchurch, New Zealand, to Los Angeles in 12 hours, 13 minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.87.

The two G700 production test aircraft interiors showcased the industry’s only ultragalley, with more than 10 feet/3 meters of counter space; a grand suite with fixed bed and bright, spacious lavatory with full vanity and shower; an ultrahigh-definition dynamic circadian lighting system; an all-new award-winning seat design; and the lowest cabin altitude in the industry at 2,916 ft/889 m when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m.