News Release
GULFSTREAM COMPLETES TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT USING FUTURE AIR NAVIGATION SYSTEM DATA LINK
Flight Is First Of Its Kind For A Purpose-Built Business Jet
SAVANNAH, Ga., October 21, 2008 – Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), recently completed a full Future Air Navigation System (FANS) flight across the Atlantic Ocean using Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication with Automatic Dependent Surveillance (CPDLC/ADS). The flight was the first of its kind for a purpose-built business jet.
The CPDLC/ADS data link provides flight crews with direct communication to oceanic and remote-area Air Traffic Controllers. It enhances safety because it automatically reports when an aircraft deviates from its cleared altitude and route. It also provides meteorological data from the aircraft’s sensors.
Gulfstream senior international captains Sean Sheldon and Ron Newton flew the Gulfstream G450 test aircraft from Savannah to the London-Luton Airport and back. The aircraft, which features a fully integrated avionics package with triple Flight Management Systems (FMSs) operating in synchronous mode, used CPDLC/ADS for oceanic communication and position reporting.
Crews using the data link log on to the air traffic system computer, which allows the aircraft’s computer to exchange information with ground-based computers. Those computers automatically transfer responsibility of the aircraft to the next region’s air traffic system as the aircraft travels along its route. This eliminates the need for crews to use radio operators and high-frequency radios to request clearances and provide position reports.
Gulfstream anticipates offering CPDLC/ADS to operators of large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft in the third quarter 2009. It will be part of Certification Foxtrot for PlaneView®, the signature Gulfstream flight deck featuring Honeywell Primus Epic avionics.
The PlaneView upgrade will include a number of advances, including a Global Positioning Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which will enable the use of lateral precision with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches. In addition, Certification Foxtrot will support Required Navigation Performance 0.1 for precision area navigation (RNAV FMS) approaches requiring aircraft position accuracy to 0.1 nautical mile.
Certification Foxtrot will also introduce new functionalities, such as XM satellite weather display on moving maps; automatic transitions from FMS navigation to Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches and back to FMS for missed approaches; and electronic charts that eliminate the need for paper.
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 some 1,800 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 wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 9,700 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, Va., employs approximately 84,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2008 revenues of approximately $29.5 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com
