News Release
GIV-SP DISPATCH RELIABILITY REACHES 99.6%; GV DISPATCH RELIABILITY EXCEEDS 99%
Gulfstream Fleet of GIVs, GIV-SPs and GVs Totals 551 In-Service Aircraft; GIV Fleet Records More Than 1.5 Million Flight Hours
Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 17, 2001 - The long-range Gulfstream IV-SP business jet aircraft achieved a remarkable 99.6% dispatch reliability rate over the past year, while the Gulfstream IV fleet passed yet another significant milestone: 1.5 million hours of in-service flight time.
"A dispatch reliability rate of 99.6% is absolutely phenomenal for a business jet aircraft," said Bill Boisture, president and chief operating officer. "We attribute this average to several factors, the airplane's great design, and our own internal process to identify and eliminate the issues that negatively impact the dispatch reliability rate."
Gulfstream's aggressive reliability-tracking process addresses the issues and assigns a quality-control team to analyze and resolve them immediately.
The GIV/GIV-SP is the best-selling, long-range, large-cabin business jet aircraft in history. With a range of 4,220 nautical miles at .80 Mach and a comfortable cabin with three living areas, the intercontinental GIV-SP boasts an uncompromised record of safety, reliability, performance and comfort.
The 425 Gulfstream IV aircraft in service have accrued more than 1.5 million flight hours and more than 770,000 landings. According to reports compiled over the last 12 months, the dispatch reliability rate has been improving steadily.
The Gulfstream V fleet has achieved a dispatch reliability rate of more than 99%.
"Most of the entry-into-service issues on the GV have been identified and resolved by making small engineering revisions to various aircraft systems," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs. "As the GV fleet grows, the dispatch reliability rate should improve accordingly."
The Gulfstream V is the world's first and most successful large-cabin, ultra-long range business jet aircraft. With its proven ability to travel non-stop for 6,500 nautical miles, fly at speeds up to Mach .885 and cruise at altitudes as high as 51,000 feet, the Gulfstream V can quickly connect the world's international business centers.
The 117 in-service ultra-long range Gulfstream V aircraft accrued 109,843 flight hours and 51,163 landings, as of June 30.
According to the company's latest fleet statistics, the 1,089 in-service Gulfstream I, II, III, IV, IV-SP and V business aircraft have flown close to 9 million flight hours.
NOTE TO EDITOR
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.
