Gulfstream, the longtime leader in the AIN Product Support Survey, scored higher this year with an overall average 8.3 rating for its largecabin jets (newer and older aircraft), although after a large jump last year, Embraer is creeping even closer to the top spot, up 0.1 to 8.2 from last year’s 8.1.
Last year, Cessna claimed the thirdplace spot with a 7.7 overall average (tied with Bombardier’s Challengers), but Bombardier’s Learjet division leapfrogged over Cessna this year with a 7.9 that carried Learjet into third place. Nevertheless, Cessna did improve this year to an overall average of 7.8 and fourth place, climbing 0.1 over last year.
Gulfstream’s midsize jets climbed by 0.2 points, to 7.7 and fifth place this year, the same position the aircraft held last year. Dassault Falcon’s overall average dropped 0.1 to 7.5 this year, not enough to push past Bombardier’s Challenger and Global models, which tied at 7.6 and sixth place.
The former Hawker Beechcraft jets dropped to an overall average of 6.9, likely further reflection of the challenges the manufacturer faced as it went through bankruptcy, emerging earlier this year as Beechcraft, no longer a jet maker, and focused on the King Air turboprop twins, piston airplanes and military turboprop trainers. Perhaps reflective of Beechcraft’s renewed focus, the King Air line saw a 0.2 point improvement from last year, with this year’s overall average at 7.2. That still wasn’t enough to move up from third place, however.