Here are five reasons Gulfstream remains the favored manufacturer of safety-conscious jet setters.
Air travel is among the safest modes of transport available today. We have found that Gulfstream, in particular, has a philosophy of quality that prioritizes strength and redundancy while adhering to elegant standards of modern airframe design. Few other manufacturers strike this balance so well.
Safety is among the many reasons we offer exclusively Gulfstream aircraft in our fleet. These features set Gulfstream apart in the world of private jet travel.
BMW Rolls Royce (BR710) Engines
Long-range business jets like the Gulfstream V (GV) are propelled by today’s most durable and reliable engines. When you choose to fly on a Gulfstream, you receive the promise of safety and reliability from both BMW and Rolls Royce.
These two companies formed a strategic partnership over 25 years ago. They produced a jet engine with over 98% dispatch reliability and superior performance capabilities. Each engine produces almost 15,000 pounds of thrust after it is mechanically derated at the factory. This protocol makes the engines more reliable and longer lasting than if they were allowed to produce their full thrust capacity.
Takeoff and Landing Performance
Our Gulfstream aircraft occupy rare territory, in that they can both take off from and land at airfields with short runways. Smaller aircraft with less powerful engines sometimes require more runway length than a GV to operate safely. This is due to several performance-related reasons like wingspan, aircraft speed, and drag devices unavailable on some smaller jets. A GV commonly and safely lands at airports with a mere 4,000-foot runway!
Aircraft with higher takeoff and landing performance capabilities are inherently safer, considering most airports have runway lengths that greatly exceed the minimum requirements for Gulfstreams. Drag devices like automatic ground spoilers, thrust reversers, and anti-skid brakes allow flight crews to perform emergency stopping in less than half the total runway available. Gulfstreams can take off and stop on a dime when required.
Fuel Capacity
One of the GV’s greatest safety assets is the massive volume of fuel it can carry. Having extra fuel in the tanks for contingencies is a must in our industry, no matter the operation or airframe type. Having even more fuel available on each flight greatly enhances safety by giving the flight crew more options should inclement weather or airport shutdowns cause an unforeseen diversion.
Here are some impressive facts about the fuel capacity of the GV:
- A GV can remain airborne for 12.5 hours while still having one extra hour of flying time left over in the fuel tanks.
- At a minimum, GV aircraft are certified to fly for 3 hours (180 minutes) with one engine inoperative. The reality is that these aircraft can fly for almost double that time on one engine while still having adequate fuel reserves to fly longer if necessary.
Redundant Flight Controls
Backup systems are a staple of the aviation industry. Everything in an airframe’s design and operation is done with redundancy in mind. GV aircraft are controlled directly by mechanical links from the flight deck to the flight controls outside. The links are supplemented by two independent hydraulic pressure sources that make them easier to move. The simplicity and reliability of this design allow your pilots to retain complete control of the aircraft even if both hydraulic systems stopped working.
Satellite Phone and Medical Supplies
One of the biggest worries, and most likely threats to safety, aboard any aircraft is a mid-flight medical emergency. On the flight deck, GV flight crews have a satellite phone with a direct link to medical services. This can make a huge difference when a flight crew needs to help render immediate aid to a passenger in need. In addition, we have equipped each aircraft with AEDs, which have a proven track record of saving lives in the air.
