GULFSTREAM ANNOUNCED on December 31, 2018, that it had made the first deliveries of its new G500 aircraft to an international customer.
Qatar Executive, the executive charter division of Qatar Airways, accepted two G500s at Gulfstream’s production facility in Savannah, Georgia, on the above date. The aircraft will join ive G650ERs already in service with Qatar Executive.
The G500 gained Federal Administration Type and Production Certiication in July 2018 and this was followed by Qatar Civil Aviation Authority validation of the US documentation in October.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “We are truly delighted to be the international launch customer for the all-new Gulfstream G500 jet. This state-of-the-art aircraft will set a new industry benchmark and will ofer our passengers an unrivalled lying experience.”
Qatar Executive became the international launch customer for the aircraft in 2014, with an agreement for up to 30 Gulfstream aircraft, including the G500, G600 and G650ER.
Akbar Al Baker added: “Qatar Executive and Gulfstream share a special and strong relationship, one which has grown over the years based on conidence and mutual understanding. This relationship emphasises Qatar Executive’s commitment to provide an industry-leading product and service.”
In other Gulfstream-related news, the company announced on December 10, 2018, that its G650ER has achieved another performance record, this time shaving one hour and 48 minutes of the previous world record time for a light between New York and Dubai.
The G650ER lew from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Dubai to participate in the recent Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association in the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft completed the 6,142-nautical mile (11,375km) journey in 11 hours and two minutes at an average speed of Mach 0.90.
Details of the light have been submitted to the National Aeronautic Association and, if ratiied, will be the 79th record achieved by the G650 family.
Over 325 G650 and G650ER aircraft are in service throughout the world, including more than 30 in the Middle East Region. Nigel Pittaway
