News Release
GULFSTREAM G550, G500, G450 AND G350 BUSINESS JETS RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION TO FLY PREDETERMINED APPROACHES
The FAA’s “Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required” (RNP SAAAR) Approach Procedures Allow Operators To Save Time and Fuel
SAVANNAH, Ga., January 2, 2008 – Gulfstream has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the company’s PlaneView® – equipped business jets – the G550, G500, G450 and G350 – to fly “Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required” (RNP SAAAR) airport approaches.
For the past year, Gulfstream has been working with the FAA, NetJets® and Honeywell International to secure FAA approval that would allow the two companies’ Gulfstream PlaneView-equipped aircraft to fly RNP SAAAR approaches. Aircraft flying under RNP SAAAR procedures use both global positioning and inertial navigation reference systems to fly predetermined paths preloaded in their flight management computers. These paths, which are navigated through the Flight Guidance Control System, allow pilots to fly safer, more-direct and lower-minimum approaches, thereby reducing typical diversions. These more direct airport approaches reduce the time aircraft are in the air, saving operators both time and fuel.
“This recent effort is an example of our continued commitment to ensuring our customers aircraft are operating at top efficiency,” said Joseph T. Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. “By utilizing the RNP SAAAR airport approaches, we expect both NetJets and Honeywell will immediately see positive effects in terms of fuel costs and passenger satisfaction.”
This approval followed the successful completion of Gulfstream’s two-pronged effort -- to prove the accuracy of the aircraft’s onboard navigational systems and to create flight crew operations and maintenance documents that provide guidance on conducting RNP SAAAR approaches.
In March 2007, when Gulfstream received FAA approval for its next-generation PlaneView upgrade (“Certification Delta”), the company provided quality data on the aircraft that proved the accuracy of the onboard navigation systems, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), autopilots and advanced graphic modules. To do this, Gulfstream correlated and verified the lateral and vertical accuracies demonstrated during flight testing using the Flight Management System (FMS) and Differential GPS.
To meet the second criteria, Gulfstream recently completed an aircraft-specific RNP SAAAR Operations Manual. This instructional manual along with the aircraft quality data enabled the FAA to issue approval for PlaneView-equipped Gulfstream business jets to fly RNP SAAAR 0.3 approaches. The aircraft-specific Maintenance Document provides information on maintaining the airplane to standards required for conducting the RNP SAAAR approaches.
NetJets and Honeywell now will include this recent FAA approval in their own operational packages, which include an RNP SAAAR pilot training program, for submission to their local FAA Flight Standards District Offices. Upon approval of their respective operational packages, they can begin conducting specified RNP SAAAR instrument approaches.
NOTE TO EDITORS
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 some 1,600 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 large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200 ®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350 ®; the large-cabin, long-range G450 ®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500 ® and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 ®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales ®. The company employs more than 9,100 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 83,000 people worldwide and anticipates 2007 revenues of more than $27 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
