Gulfstream’s G550 fleet recently notched a major milestone with the type achieving its one millionth flight. The long-range twinjet entered service in 2003 and served as the top of the Savannah, Georgia airframer’s line until the certification of the G650 in 2012. While production of the large-cabin G550 ceased in 2021, more than 600 remain in service, with the fleet tallying 2.6 million flight hours and counting.
“Two decades after the aircraft entered service, the G550 continues to achieve in-service milestones and add to its impressive list of accolades as evidenced by this one-millionth landing,” said Mark Burns, the OEM’s president. “This is a testament to the quality of the G550 and the technology that Gulfstream introduced on this aircraft, which paved the way for our next-generation fleet.”
The G550 marked the debut of Gulfstream’s enhanced vision system—now known as enhanced flight vision system or EFVS—an advancement that helped the company receive the 2003 Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association. Gulfstream was the first OEM to gain FAA approval for EFVS use on touchdown and takeoff. The system has since been available on all subsequent Gulfstream models including the soon-to-be certified G700.