Page 54 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

BUSINESS JETS

GULFSTREAM LEADS THE SKIES

their own SAF supply, and Gulfstream has for heating and cooling, optimised energy
worked to connect them with the World performance, recycling of at least 75 per
Gulfstream’s enhanced commitment Energy refinery. In 2020, Gulfstream also cent of construction waste, low-emitting
to sustainability stretches back to 2009, began offering the fuel at its service centre building materials, water-saving fixtures
when the company joined the broader in Van Nuys. and preferred parking for low-emission
business aviation industry in committing to With more still to be done, Gulfstream vehicles.
the sustainability goals set by the National launched a carbon offsets programme. In The all-new Gulfstream Van Nuys
Business Aviation Association, the General October 2019, the company flew carbon service centre opened in December 2019;
Aviation Manufacturers Association and neutral for the first time, taking five SAF- the facility offers SAF to customers and
the International Business Aviation Council. fuelled company-owned aircraft filled with features recycled building materials, an
Since then, Gulfstream’s robust employees from Savannah to Las Vegas; the energy-efficient thermoplastic polyolefin
sustainability programme has grown to offsets represented more than 200% of the roof, water-saving fixtures and landscaping,
and enhanced control systems for heating/
include aircraft operational efficiency, carbon emitted during the trip. Through the cooling. All three facilities are expected
eco-friendly buildings and the use of programme, operators let Gulfstream know to receive U.S. Green Building Council
sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its their projected annual flight hours and are Leadership in Energy and Environmental
corporate, demonstration, customer invoiced a monthly fee, which is invested Design certification.
support and flight test fleets in Savannah. in environmentally beneficial activities
The company even sells SAF to customers through a third-party provider chosen by In 2020, the new Gulfstream Farnborough
of its Long Beach, California, maintenance Gulfstream. service centre in Hampshire debuted its
and completions facility and uses it for Gulfstream also designs its aircraft with environmental benefits, including rainwa-
its own California-based completions and efficiency in mind. When the industry goals ter harvesting, radiant heating systems
delivery flights. were established in 2009, the Gulfstream in the purpose-built hangar, intelligent
The company’s first foray into using the G450 and G550 were baselines. The lighting controls and heat recovery
fuel came in 2011, when a Gulfstream G450 Gulfstream G500 and G600 both fly faster systems. The building is also expected to
achieve a “Very Good” Building Research
became the first business jet to cross the than the G450 and G550 and feature larger Establishment Environmental Assessment
Atlantic using renewable fuel. In 2015, the cabins, but at the same time, they offer Method (BREEAM) rating.
company signed a multi-year agreement for as much as a 32% improvement in fuel
a regular supply of sustainable aviation fuel efficiency. Both aircraft fly nearly 30 knots Overall, Gulfstream boasts 10 Green
for its Savannah facility. By December 2019, faster than their predecessors with the Certified new buildings, featuring
the company achieved a milestone by flying same fuel burn while providing a longer sustainable site construction, material
its corporate aircraft more than 1 million and wider fuselage, giving the business selection, indoor environmental quality
nautical miles on SAF. aviation community a new generation of and water and energy-efficient designs.
Every gallon of SAF used by Gulfstream’s efficiency and performance. These buildings have provided a reduction
Savannah-based fleet saves at least In addition to its aircraft, Gulfstream also in Gulfstream’s carbon footprint by 10 per
cent since 2014. Company-wide processes
60% in carbon dioxide emissions on a focuses on sustainability within its facilities. have been optimised to improve quality,
life-cycle basis vs. petroleum-based jet The company recently opened several reduce delays, reduce total costs, and
fuel. Gulfstream has used a 30/70 blend new buildings with sustainable features in improve skills and processes to reduce
of low-carbon, drop-in SAF and Jet-A in the United States and Europe. In August operational waste.
operations at its Savannah headquarters 2019, the company opened a new facility
since 2012. To date, it has used more than in Appleton, Wisconsin, that includes The manufacturer’s work is not yet done.
980,000 gallons of the SAF blend and sensitive land protection, a rainwater Gulfstream boasts a cross-functional,
reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more management system, enhanced control enterprise-wide Environmental Strategy
than 1,700 tonnes. systems for heating and cooling, optimised Team dedicated to ensuring the company
Gulfstream’s use of SAF prompted others energy performance and electric vehicle remains on the forefront of sustainability
to embrace this environmentally friendly charging stations. within business aviation as well as the
communities where its employees live and
fuel. In March 2019, it completed the In September 2019, Gulfstream opened
first sale of SAF to a Gulfstream operator. its East Campus service centre in Savannah, work. Q
Nearly 20 Gulfstream operators have Georgia. That facility features energy-ef- Article courtesy: https://www.forbes.com/
expressed interest in obtaining and using ficient lighting, enhanced control systems sites/businessreporter/2021/01/19/

World Airnews | February Extra 2021
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