News Release
FIRST GULFSTREAM IV IN CHINA LOGS 450 CHARTER FLIGHT HOURS IN A SINGLE YEAR
Success Attributed To High-Quality Aircraft and Strong Product Support
SAVANNAH, Ga., August 9, 2005 - The first large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream IV (GIV) business jet to operate in The People’s Republic of China logged 450 flight hours between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005. Air China Business Jet, which operates the GIV, entered the business jet into service in October 2003.
“With the GIV, we have been able to provide our clients the best-quality charter jet available in our region,” said Chang Quisheng, Deputy General Manager of Air China Business Jet. “Additionally, Gulfstream has demonstrated its commitment to our charter business through strong product support, exceptional spare parts availability and a useful information sharing system. Gulfstream’s high level of responsiveness has helped us build a reputation for quality and reliability.”
Gulfstream’s worldwide product support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on six continents through company-owned service centers as well as authorized line service and warranty facilities. Additionally, Gulfstream’s service center in Long Beach, Calif., is approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to provide support for Chinese-registered GIV and GIV-SP aircraft.
“We remain committed to providing Asian companies like Air China Business Jet appropriately sized aircraft that best suit the needs of their customers,” said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. “Gulfstream business jets are affordable alternatives to commercial-size aircraft. They also suit most charter flight requirements, while providing passengers a well-appointed cabin that lends to a very comfortable flight.”
A subsidiary of Air China Ltd., Air China Business Jet uses the GIV for international and regional charter flights to neighboring countries such as Japan and Russia and countries in South and Middle Asia. While 40 percent of the company’s passengers are international business people, nearly a third are government officials and the other third are business people based in China.
Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), delivered its first GIV business jet in 1987. Since then, more than 500 GIV aircraft have been produced, making it the best-selling business jet in its class. Predecessor to today’s new long-range Gulfstream G450 and mid-range G350 business jets, the GIV can fly up to 4,220 nautical miles, at speeds up to 0.88 Mach and at a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet. The GIV/GIV-SP fleet has accumulated some 2.4 million flight hours and more than 1.2 million takeoffs. In service for 18 years, the GIV/GIV-SP fleet maintains a 99.86 percent dispatch reliability rate.
In addition to providing air transportation for international corporations and air charter companies, governments throughout the world use the GIV to transport high-ranking officials, including presidents and heads of state, and to conduct airborne research, reconnaissance and medical evacuations.
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 1,500 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 G350 ™; 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 7,200 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 70,800 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 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.
