A Gulfstream business jet cabin is as functional as any office or boardroom

For more than three decades, business jets have proven themselves to be an essential operating tool for companies of every size. That is especially true of Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream jets can take off and land at approximately 5,000 airports across the US. Commercial airlines, on the other hand, are limited to approximately 500 airports.

This accessibility is a must for industrialists and corporates. Gulfstream aircraft have another advantage: these can be flown at higher altitudes than commercial airlines, which essentially translates to avoiding air-traffic congestion and adverse weather.

No need to show up 90 minutes before a flight departs; no lost baggage; no misplaced documents. You have everything with you when you take off and land. As they say, Time is money. Business jets are essentially time machines that increase productivity, thereby generating greater financial returns for a company.

To expound on that efficiency, Gulfstream takes the office in the sky model for business aviation to a new level. With technology such as Broad Band Multi-Link, a Gulfstream business jet cabin is as functional as any office or boardroom. Employees can use their BlackBerry, laptop and cellphone; conduct phone and/or video conferences; and print or fax content to their shareholders. Not to be overlooked is the privacy in which an employee can do business. Client or employee meetings can be held without the risk of being overheard; proprietary information can be shared.

Jet lag is not a problem for those flying Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream cabins use 100 per cent fresh air, that combats fatigue and illness. They are also quiet, comfortable and come with panoramic windows, which allow in more light. The bottom line: when an employee gets off the plane, he or she is ready to hit the ground running.

Gulfstream aircraft are also renowned for inherent safety features. Many planes are equipped with technology such as PlaneView, the most advanced flight deck in existence; PlaneBook, a preloaded tablet computer that provides pilots with immediate access to critical flight information; and PlaneConnect, a data link that automatically transmits aircraft maintenance information from airborne-PlaneViewequipped jets to ground-based operations centres.

Product support is crucial to operators of Gulfstream aircraft. Not only does Gulfstream have the largest company-owned product support network in business aviation—3,000 employees—but no other businessjet manufacturer offers a wider range of services, enhancements, spares, support functions and technical publications.

Despite the one-two punch of a turbulent economy and accompanying media hyperbole of corporate extravagance, the industry is still standing—and fighting back. For those of you who think The Sudden Demise of Business Aviation will be among the course offerings at business schools next year, here are some figures to ponder on: more than 10,000 companies across the US, about 85 per cent of which are small or midsize, use business jets. Simply put, business aviation is here to stay.

Gulfstream planes have etched an indelible mark in business aviation because of their range and speed. The popular Gulfstream G550 has a range of 6,750 nautical miles, which means it can easily link Sydney with Delhi; London with Mumbai; and Paris with Bangalore. Speed is not sacrificed. The G550 can fly 6,750 nautical miles at Mach 0.80 and has a high-speed cruise capability of Mach 0.87.

In an effort that’s sure to raise the bar, Gulfstream plans to fly its state-of-the-art G650 by the end of the year. The G650 is poised to be the ultimate in purpose-built business jets. Not only does it offer the largest and quietest cabin in its class, it has the longest range, fastest speed and the most technologically advanced aircraft systems. Business travel will never be the same again.