ABJ Are there any plans to develop a supersonic transport? MB Gulfstream has a small team committed to research- ing sonic-boom mitigation. We also continue to work to remove the ban on flying supersonically over land by engaging with the regulatory agencies responsible for developing and maintaining international aviation noise standards. ABJ Are defense/security applications considered a grow- ing market for your products? If yes, which aircraft seem to be the main focus for special missions? MB Gulfstream has been adapting its aircraft for special missions since 1967. The new generations of air- frames we produce have kept pace with the advanced technology that has led to changes in special missions requirements over the years. Gulfstream has more than 200 special missions aircraft in service supporting governments in approxi- mately 40 countries. These aircraft address head- of-state transport, airborne early warning, ground surveillance, maritime patrol, aeromedical evacuation, and international atmospheric research. The Gulfstream cabin is also ideal for special missions thanks to its quiet environment, low cabin altitude, and 100 percent fresh air—all of which result in less fatigue for crew and passengers. In the case of medical airlift missions, that cabin environment is ideal for patient transport. Generally, today’s special mission equipment and electronics have gotten smaller and lighter, require less power, and have become significantly more reli- able. Gulfstream aircraft can accommodate these advancements and offer significantly higher per- formance at much lower costs than today’s existing airliner platforms. The Gulfstream G550 has been and continues to be a great success for Gulfstream’s Special Missions programs. The aircraft’s industry-leading reliability and efficiency present a great value to government and military customers. The Polish Ministry of Defense uses the Gulfstream G550 for secure head-of-state transport. We also have a partnership with the Beijing Red Cross Emergency Medical Center for a medevac-configured G550 aircraft, Aviation Business Journal | Spring 2019 one of the most state-of-the-art medevac aircraft available. Its best-in-class capabilities make it the ideal platform for special missions aircraft, as evidenced by orders from Italy, the Polish Ministry of Defense, and the U.S. Navy (TRSA – Telemetry Range Support Aircraft). Gulfstream also continuously incorporates new technologies into the G550 flight deck. This helps increase situational awareness, which is even more important as increased situational understanding is needed with distributed battle management systems. ABJ In recent years, we have seen a lot of supply chain issues. What impact, if any, have they had on Gulfstream? MB In July of 2018, NORDAM, which manufactured the nacelles for the Gulfstream G500 and G600, declared bankruptcy and briefly delayed those programs. One of the ways to get the nacelle production line back up and running again was to purchase it from NORDAM and run it ourselves. It is no secret that we are most comfortable when we control, and are responsible for, our own destiny. When we purchased the nacelle line from NORDAM, we took control of our own destiny, so our customers could take control of theirs. Our worldwide supply chain has become an increas- ingly-important facet of our business. It is why we have established a new organization that integrates the enter- prise functions of program management, quality, and supply chain management, ensuring better alignment throughout the program teams. Leading this group is Dennis Stuligross, who was most recently named Senior Vice President of Operations at Gulfstream. ABJ You are an NATA member. What were some of the advantages you see NATA membership providing? MB Along with representing the interests of the general aviation business community before Congress and federal, state, and local government agencies, NATA focuses on the broad range of aeronautical services available to the aviation community, including aircraft sales and acquisitions, fueling, and aircraft ground support. The education programs, services, and bene- fits it provides to members help ensure their long-term economic success. We are very proud to be a member of NATA. 39
