News Release
GULFSTREAM LUTON SERVICE CENTER APPROVED TO INSTALL SATELLITE
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN GULFSTREAM IV/IV-SP BUSINESS-JET
AIRCRAFT
European Aviation Safety Agency Grants Supplemental
Type Certificate for Honeywell AIRSAT ™1
Installations
SAVANNAH, Ga., Aug 20, 2004 – Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), enabling the company’s Luton service center to install the Honeywell AIRSAT™1 satellite telephone on GIV and GIV-SP business-jet aircraft.
Using the 66-satellite Iridium network, AIRSAT 1 allows business jet passengers to stay in touch from anywhere in the world. Weighing less than 19 pounds, AIRSAT 1 enables telephone communication, direct Internet connections and dial-up data while in-flight via an Iridium Transceiver Unit (ITU-100) and an antenna.
This is the first STC to be issued by EASA to Gulfstream’s Luton service center. Located just north of London at the London-Luton Airport, the service center became the company’s first to be operated outside the United States following its acquisition in April 2003. In May this year, it was announced that the Luton facility would be doubled in size.
Gulfstream’s Luton service center meets the maintenance needs of European and Middle Eastern business-jet owners. In January, it became the first aircraft maintenance facility outside the United States to receive the Federal Aviation Administration’s Diamond Award of Excellence for aircraft maintenance technician training.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,400 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100™; the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G300™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350™; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G400™; the large-cabin, long-range G450™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550™. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 6,750 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 69,400 people worldwide and anticipates 2004 revenue of $19 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company can be found at www.generaldynamics.com.
