EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008 - (Page 20)

EBACE 2008 Gulfstream’s Future Includes Even Newer Jets “Clouds do have meaning,” says Joe Lombardo, the president of Gulfstream Aerospace. He was speaking not about the overcast that covered much of Switzerland yesterday morning as we flew around Mont Blanc for a breakfast meeting in a G200, but about a slide he had presented here at EBACE on Monday. Each of those clouds hides from view Gulfstream’s next steps in product development, and Lombardo wouldn’t reveal much about what’s behind them. “I can tell you that we are looking at a new large-cabin and a new medium-cabin business jet,” he said, adding that it would be normal to evaluate refreshing its product lines several years into each cycle. But Gulfstream must first develop the G650 before moving its teams of engineers onto the next project. “If we do any new jets they must offer a significant advance over what we have today” in balanced field length, performance and technology, he said. Lombardo wouldn’t confirm analysts’ estimates that demand for its next generation G650 exceeds 500 aircraft, saying that figures are only added up when letters of intent become firm contracts. But he acknowledged that Gulfstream must look at increasing production from the originally planned 45 per year so as to deliver aircraft sooner to customers—the farthest out could be waiting more than 10 years for their airplane at that rate. The G650 assembly hall in Savannah, Georgia, can fit a second line allowing production of up to 90 aircraft a year, but Lombardo noted the supply chain already is strained and any production increase must be made cautiously. Gulfstream is in steady contact with customers on the timing of Gulfstream president Joe Lombardo and B/CA editor William Garvey in the G200. Both companies are celebrating their 50th anniversaries this year. their delivery slots and is assuring them that none have been allocated to NetJets, a large buyer of current models. And, great care has been taken to prevent speculators moving in to snap up positions they will later sell to others. “They are nontransferrable,” he said. There have been a few fleet sales, but these have been spread out so as not to block deliveries to individual customers. Lombardo said the business jet boom is stressing the infrastructure for the whole industry: there are not enough engineers, and maintenance and training facilities are trying to keep up. Gulfstream meets regularly with third party maintenance companies and is encouraging them to expand to meet the need, especially in fast-growing parts of the world, he said. —John Morris Mont Blanc seen from 20,000 ft as it peeks above the clouds. Gulfstream’s clouds (above) are there merely to claok the future from prying eyes—and journalists. Grob Plans Simulator Training Centers for the SPn Jet A type rating training program is to be instigated by Grob Aerospace for its SPn business jet, available to both private and commercial operators. The European base will be at its new facility at St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland, opening 2009. For North American customers the company will establish a center at its Portsmouth-Pease Airport, New Hampshire facility, opening 2010. Pilots will have sessions on the Aerosim Virtual Procedure Trainer and each facility is planned to be equipped with a Level D simulator certificated by EASA and FAA. A mentor training program will be offered to students who do not qualify without restriction, and this will also be available to customers who wish to participate. Until the new facilities open, training will be con—Mike Vines ducted on the aircraft. 20 May 22, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008

EBAA Bestows Awards Honeywell APUs Gain DayJet Not Hurting Eclipse Airbus Cabins in China Lisa Flies Its Akoya Single P&WC Service Boosts AMAC Aerospace Debuts FirstCall Telemedicine First Lineage to Prestige The TBM 850 is All New A Far Larger DC Aviation Midcoast for Falcon Work Tailwind Offers CRJ200 Jet Aviation for Utah

EBACE Show News - May 22, 2008

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