G550 Technology

It began in 1999 as an advanced cockpit project. But by the time it was completed four years later, it had grown to become the Gulfstream G550® large-cabin, ultra-long-range business jet, the most technologically advanced airplane in corporate aviation.

The Gulfstream development team that collaborated with its aviation partners to create the G550 was recognized for its efforts with the 2003 Robert J. Collier Trophy, the most prestigious award in the aerospace industry.

One of the development team's most impressive technological achievements was the PlaneView® cockpit. A unique interpretation of Honeywell's Primus Epic® architecture and display system, the G550's PlaneView cockpit features an integrated avionics suite with four 14-inch (36 cm) liquid crystal displays. The new system provides essential flight information to the pilots on displays that are considerably larger than those on competing avionics systems. Not only do they reduce the pilots' workload, they also improve the level of situational awareness on the flight deck.

The PlaneView cockpit also presented pilots with the first fully synchronous triple Flight Management System (FMS). By using the Gulfstream Signature Cursor Control Device (CCD), pilots can interact with the FMS and the navigation map that displays the flight plan along with surrounding terrain, airways, airports, navigational aids and radar data.

Another new technological feature involved the latest in Head-Up Display (HUD) technology. Using LCD technology for unprecedented image clarity, the HUD displays flight information and guidance cues on the optical combiner in the pilot's forward field of view. This eliminates the need for pilots to divert their attention from outside the cockpit to the instrument panel while in flight.

Using advanced infrared imaging technology, the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II™ captures images of the surrounding environment and presents the pilot with a clear picture of runway markings, taxiways and surrounding terrain at night and in deteriorating weather conditions. Not only does it significantly improve flight safety, but it also promotes greater situational awareness.

Gulfstream's original EVS was the first vision-enhancing system to be certified by the FAA in 2001. Since that time, there are now over 400 EVS units in Gulfstream service today.

Gulfstream became the first manufacturer to certify synthetic vision under FAA Part 25 rules. The Synthetic Vision Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD) projects a digitized view of the outside world on the pilot's primary display to give unprecedented levels of situational awareness regardless of the conditions outside.

Winning the Collier Trophy was a great honor for Gulfstream and a tribute to the engineering skill and determination of the G550 development team.

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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.