Savannah, Georgia - October 16, 2001 - Gulfstream Aerospace
Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:
GD), has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration
to install the revolutionary Enhanced Vision System on the Gulfstream
V ultra-long range business jet aircraft.
The FAA-issued Supplemental Type Certificate allows Gulfstream to
offer EVS as an option on new GV ultra-long range business jet aircraft
and also to install the system as a retrofit on in-service GV aircraft.
"The EVS is a revolutionary safety enhancement for operators
of Gulfstream V business jet aircraft," said Bill Boisture, Gulfstream
president and chief operating officer. "Offered exclusively by
Gulfstream, it significantly improves situational awareness for flight
crews and provides instant access to the information needed to make
safe flying decisions in adverse weather and low-visibility conditions."
Gulfstream has integrated the enhanced vision technology onboard
the revolutionary Gulfstream V-SP; it is a standard component of its
exclusive PlaneView® cockpit. Next month Gulfstream will begin
to design and test EVS for retrofit on in-service Gulfstream IV business
jet aircraft. EVS will be offered as an option on all new Gulfstream
IV-SP business jet aircraft. Certification for the GIV is expected
by mid-year 2002.
"EVS and the exclusive PlaneView cockpit represent two more
revolutionary firsts by a company that is already known for taking
the leadership role in product development," said Pres Henne,
senior vice president, programs.
The EVS incorporates a unique sensor system based on Forward-Looking
Infrared (FLIR) technology developed and manufactured by Kollsman
Inc., Merrimack, NH. The EVS sensor projects an infrared, real-world
conformal image on Honeywell's Head-Up
Display in the cockpit. The image enables a pilot to see through fog
and darkness. In-service GVs outfitted with HUD can be retrofitted
with EVS to achieve the same safety enhancements.
The FAA's Safer Skies initiative has identified several situations
that cause accidents, including deteriorating weather conditions,
controlled flights into terrain, runway incursions and mistakes during
approaches and landings. EVS can assist with each of these volatile
situations. Enhancing vision during adverse weather conditions, darkness
or obstructed landings significantly reduces the margin for error.
"As part of our FAA certification flight testing last month,
three pilots and an FAA flight test engineer flew 80 approaches using
EVS during the day and at night in all kinds of weather conditions,"
said Mike Mena, program manager for the GV-SP and EVS. "The Gulfstream
flight crew, pilots Ron Newton and Gary Freeman and Flight Test Engineer
Bill Osborne, flew the aircraft over mountains at night to show the
FAA how well EVS detects terrain. EVS met or exceeded all expectations
during this testing, successfully meeting the demanding FAA certification
criteria. Thanks to their expertise and knowledge, our team was able
to demonstrate EVS to the fullest extent possible."
"There's a lot of demand for the EVS," Mena added. "To
date, we've sold about 35 Enhanced Vision Systems for GV retrofit
installation. This number does not include the systems that will be
installed as standard equipment on the GV-SP business jet aircraft."
Gulfstream service centers will begin EVS retrofit installations on
in-service GVs in the first quarter of 2002.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General
Dynamics (NYSE:GD), designs, develops, manufactures and markets the
world's most technologically advanced intercontinental business jet
aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,200 aircraft for customers
around the world since 1958. To meet the aviation needs of its customers,
Gulfstream offers a full range of aircraft products and services,
including the Gulfstream 100®, Gulfstream 200®, Gulfstream
IV-SP®, the ultra-long range Gulfstream V® and Gulfstream
V-SP®, Gulfstream Shares®, Gulfstream Financial Services®,
Gulfstream Lease®, Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®, Gulfstream
Charter Services®, Gulfstream Management Services® and Gulfstream
ServiceCare®. The company employs more than 8,750 people at eight
locations. We invite you to visit our Web site at www.gulfstream.com for photos of Gulfstream aircraft and related information.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs
approximately 49,000 people and anticipates 2001 sales of approximately
$11.5 billion. The company has leading market positions in business
aviation, information systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and
land and amphibious combat systems. More information about the company
can be found at www.generaldynamics.com.
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