Gulfstream Aerospace has long been at the vanguard of innovation in aviation, bringing together visionary leadership and new technology to make business travel faster, more efficient and more comfortable.
Today, the company continues that tradition in its approach to sustainability.
“We’ve accomplished a tremendous amount in the sustainability space,” said Scott Evans, director of demonstration, airborne customer support and corporate flight ops at Gulfstream. “This is especially true since 2011, when a Gulfstream G450 became the first business jet to complete a trans-Atlantic flight using [sustainable aviation fuel] SAF.”
Improving Sustainability in the Air and on the Ground
Based in Savannah, GA, Gulfstream has achieved a parade of sustainability milestones in recent years. For example, in 2014, the company introduced its G500 and G600 aircraft. Despite being bigger and faster than the previous generation of aircraft, these clean-sheet designs incorporate sustainability-driving features including advanced avionics; state-of-the-art aerodynamics and higher-performing, lower-emission engines – and are up to 33% more efficient as a result.
The company has also greatly increased its use of SAF. It surpassed 2 million nautical miles flown using SAF blends in 2022, and today is well on its way to 3 million. In 2023, Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight using 100% SAF. It maintains a consistent, dedicated supply of SAF for daily operations, and in 2019 became the first OEM to make SAF available to customers.
In addition, the company has pledged to achieve carbon-neutral status for all Airborne Customer Support, demo and corporate flights from 2023 onward, using SAF and carbon offsets, and is active in promoting the benefits of SAF to others in business aviation.
“Gulfstream continues to collaborate with our partners to improve engine efficiency, invest in advanced aerodynamics and innovate situational awareness technologies. But SAF continues to be the most important lever we have to decarbonize aviation in the near- to mid-term,” said Evans. “The biggest opportunity that business aviation has to drive sustainability today is to get enough operators using SAF that fuel manufacturers start making SAF available across the country and around the world.”
“Being the first OEM to receive all four NBAA sustainability accreditations is something that we are particularly proud of. These accreditations show the success of our long-term sustainability journey.”
SCOTT EVANS, Director of Demonstration, Airborne Customer Support and Corporate Flight Ops at Gulfstream
Gulfstream also focuses on creating more sustainable operations on the ground. Its newer facilities boast energy-saving features including recycled building materials, energy-efficient lighting, radiant heating systems, advanced control systems for heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting and preferred parking for low-emission automobiles.
As a result of these efforts, the company’s newest customer-service facilities, located in California, Wisconsin, Georgia and England, have increased Gulfstream’s green (LEED-, BREAAM- and/or ISO 14001-certified) building total to more than 2.2 million square feet across 10 buildings. This means that even with more than 30% growth in manufacturing and service facilities, Gulfstream has been able to reduce its emissions by 18%.
“The biggest opportunity that business aviation has to drive sustainability today is to get enough operators using SAF that fuel manufacturers start making SAF available across the country and around the world.”
SCOTT EVANS, Director of Demonstration, Airborne Customer Support and Corporate Flight Ops at Gulfstream
A Recognized Leader in Sustainability
Gulfstream has been widely recognized for its approach to sustainability. For instance, in 2019 and again in 2022, it received the Business Intelligence Group’s Sustainability Leadership Award honoring organizations that have made sustainability an integral part of how they do business.
And in 2023, Gulfstream became the first OEM to earn all four accreditations offered by NBAA’s Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program, in Flight, Operations, Ground Support and Infrastructure. Getting these accreditations took work, but NBAA’s tool sets and personal attention made for an exceptional learning experience.
“Being the first OEM to receive all four NBAA sustainability accreditations is something that we are particularly proud of,” said Evans. “These accreditations show the success of our long-term sustainability journey. Just as importantly, they give us the knowledge and language we need to communicate the benefits of what we’re doing in terms of sustainability – both internally, across the Gulfstream organization, and with customers to help them understand the value that our new, more-sustainable aircraft can provide.”
Overcoming Resistance to Sustainability Efforts
For operators who feel overwhelmed by the idea of changing their ways to embrace sustainability goals, Evans’ advice is threefold. First, get educated about the hows and whys of sustainability. Don’t feel like you have to do everything all at once – just obtain interest and start learning.
Second, keep asking your FBO about making SAF available. SAF is available in new locations weekly; make your demand known so that more FBOs are convinced to stand up SAF options.
Finally, flight departments should try to connect their sustainability efforts to initiatives and goals at the corporate level. Find out who leads company-wide efforts, and collaborate with them. It’s a great way to increase engagement with the broader organization, tap into existing corporate resources and get buy-in for sustainability-related costs.
“We in business aviation really need to be sustainability advocates, to set the path we’re on as an industry,” said Evans. “Because if we fail to take sustainability seriously enough, that path is going to be defined for us by regulators in a way that probably won’t be what the industry wants or needs.”
