Simply Abu Dhabi XXVII

5 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Have you always been interested in aviation? My passion for planes was piqued during college when I had the opportunity to design an ultralight aeroplane in one of my engineering classes. That’s when I realised I might be interested in pursuing an aviation career, and I joined Gulfstream in 1983 as a draughtsman and computer-aided design (CAD) operator after graduating from Georgia Southern University. Can you fly an aircraft? I was recently inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, although I am not a licenced pilot. At Gulfstream, we understand that it takes input from a wide range of people to design, service and support an aircraft that our customers will want. We gather information from flight attendants, passengers, maintenance technicians, fixed-based operators and others in addition to pilots. I have quite a bit of experience on the service side of Gulfstream and as a passenger on our aircraft. All of that, along with the diverse thoughts and experiences of our workforce, ensures we create and deliver the world’s finest aviation experience to our customers. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen at the company over the past 30 years? The game-changing moment in our history was in 1999, when we were purchased by defence contractor General Dynamics. Thanks to their support, we began investing for the long-term, dedicating a consistent flow of resources to researching and developing new aircraft, new aircraft technologies and new services that provide value to our customers. The second big change came in 2003 when, in concert with our parent company, we embarked on a journey to set a long-term strategy. That strategy and our disciplined approach to executing it have allowed us to introduce five new aircraft in the past decade alone: the GulfstreamG650, the G280, the GG650ER, the G500 and the G600. In short, we revolutionised our product line and with it, the business aviation industry. I’m proud of the advances we’ve made, but I’d also like to talk about the things that haven’t changed: our commitment to excellence, our desire to always stay on the leading edge of technology and our culture of continuous improvement. Those attributes were part of Gulfstream when it was founded in 1958 and continue to be an important part of who we are today. How have client demands evolved during your time as President? Clients today want aeroplanes that go farther faster. They want to be more comfortable and more productive while they’re travelling. And they want their cabin experience at 51,000ft to be similar to what it is on the ground, so high- speed connectivity and high-definition entertainment are extremely important. Our four-living-area G650ER is a good example of how clients can customise their Gulfstream interior to reflect their lifestyle on the ground. For example, they can create a private state roomwith en suite bathroom, a six-person dining area, an entertainment area and a conference area. The kitchen offers an experience similar to those in contemporary homes with an appliance stack featuring a traditional coffeemaker and an espresso machine (or two coffee makers), a microwave and a convection oven. Customers really want the flexibility to tailor an interior to their specific needs, and we ensure they have the ability to do that. Has Gulfstream’s World War II heritage remained at the core of the product portfolio that we see today? Looking back at our Grumman forebears, I can say we’re still committed to many of the same attributes: robust construction, safety, innovation and reliability. Before it started building business aircraft in 1957, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. designed and built military aircraft intended to operate in extremely challenging conditions. Because of that, the aircraft had to be built to high standards to ensure their continued operation regardless of where and in what conditions they were flown. We still carry that commitment to quality, reliability and innovation with us today. How important is brand heritage? Brand heritage is everything. As the saying goes, you are what your record says you are. We work hard to ensure our record reflects the promise we’ve made to our customers: to create and deliver the world’s finest aviation experience for them. That means delivering on our promises, exceeding expectations and standing behind the aircraft we build. Tell us about the brand’s high-performance capabilities – what makes Gulfstream different from its competitors? I think what differentiates Gulfstream is the commitment of our employees to delivering on our promises. All our in-production aircraft entered service on time with capabilities that met or exceeded what we promised. The G650, for example, had a range 1,000 nautical miles (Nm) greater than we promised (6,000Nm vs. 5,000). With the Gulfstream G550, we delivered the PlaneView flight deck with enhanced vision, an industry first. With the G280, we delivered 200Nm more range. It’s important for us to create value for our customers by listening to what they want and ensuring we deliver it. Our people make this happen. Gulfstream has just delivered its 550th G550 – what makes this model so popular? The G550 is so popular because of its tremendous capabilities. When the G550 was introduced, it was the world’s first ultra-long-range business jet, with the ability to travel a remarkable 6,750Nm. Over the past 14 years, the G550 has established a reputation for safety, reliability, quality, craftsmanship and an extraordinary cabin environment. It offers best-in-class range and payload and is truly a versatile aircraft that can be used for business aviation as well as special missions, such as executive transport; medevac; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and electronic warfare. What can customers expect fromGulfstream’s all-new, award-winning G500 when it enters service later in 2017? The G500 offers a unique combination of speed, fuel efficiency, cabin comfort and advanced flight deck technologies not found in any other aircraft in the industry. The aircraft incorporates the state-of-the-art technology, both in the cabin and the flight deck, including the first use of active control sidesticks in business aviation. The cabin for the G500 is distinguished by its wide cross-section, which maximises passenger comfort and aircraft performance. Carrying up to 19 passengers, the G500 has three living areas with forward and aft lavatories and includes a full-size galley that can be located either forward or aft. The G500 has an industry-leading cabin altitude of 4,850ft at FL510 and 100% fresh air that boosts mental alertness and productivity while reducing fatigue. The quietest cabin in the industry provides an ideal environment for work-related discussion or social conversation. Large oval windows, the same size as those on the G650, allow natural light to pour into the cabins. The same capabilities that make the G500 popular with business operators also make it ideal for special missions.