Germany-based aircraft management and charter group DC Aviation has ordered a Gulfstream Aerospace G400. Company executives signed contracts during a ceremony today at the manufacturer’s customer support facility at Farnborough Airport in the UK.
The G400 is not the first example of the type ordered by a European owner, but it will be the first to enter a dedicated charter fleet. It will be the fifth company-owned jet for DC Aviation, which currently operates a 34-aircraft fleet that ranges in size from a Cessna Citation XLS+ to biz liners. The operator already has a G280, a G550, and a pair of G650s, with another G650 set to be delivered.
Gulfstream started flight testing the G400 on August 15, marking a key stage in its efforts to secure FAA type certification. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines, it will fly at speeds of Mach 0.85 with a range of 4,200 nm that will allow nonstop flights such as Munich to Mumbai, Zurich to New York, and Geneva to Dubai.
The G400 also features Gulfstream’s Symmetry flight deck with active sidestick controls and the predictive landing performance system. Its high-speed wing and winglets are based on a design already applied for the larger G500 and G600 models.
Owners have a choice of three cabin floorplan layouts, seating nine, 11, or 12 passengers, with space for five passengers to sleep. In addition to a plasma ionization clean air system, passengers can enjoy plenty of natural light and panoramic views from 10 oval-shaped windows. Gulfstream said it's 3,255-foot cabin altitude makes the G400 the best in its class.
DC Aviation managing director Svenja Wortmann told AIN that demand for charter flights has continued to be strong since the Covid pandemic. In addition to its main bases at Stuttgart and Munich in Germany, the operator also has aircraft based in Malta, Dubai, and Nice in France.
“We appreciate DC Aviation’s commitment to and confidence in the G400, bringing this category-leading aircraft to European charter customers,” said Scott Neal, Gulfstream’s senior vice president for worldwide sales. “The compelling combination of speed, efficiency, and cabin size of the G400 fills a much-needed void in its category. We are seeing strong demand for this aircraft in Europe and around the world.”
Gulfstream Boosts International Sales Team
This week, Gulfstream has also boosted its international sales team with the appointment of new division vice presidents for sales. Business aviation veterans Benoit Defforge and David Taylor were introduced on Thursday and will have responsibility, respectively, for the Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.
Dubai-based Defforge was formerly CEO and president of Airbus Corporate Jets and more recently has been CEO of Stanton & Partners Aviation. Taylor has joined Gulfstream from business aircraft broker Burrows Aerospace, where he was sales director for the Asia Pacific region and he will continue to be based in Singapore. Both men will report to Mike Swift, who is the manufacturer’s group vice president of international sales for both regions.
Gulfstream has also appointed Jack McGowan as its new regional vice president of sales for Northern Europe. He was formerly the executive sales director for Flexjet and will be based in London, reporting to Defforge.
Gavin Thompson has been promoted to senior regional sales manager for worldwide sales, leading its global network of regional sales managers. Scott Butcher has joined Gulfstream as a regional sales manager for Europe, having previously been with charter flight provider Starflight Aviation. Jessica Gagen has been recruited as a new sales engineer to support the team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. All of these positions are based at the company’s sales and design facility in central London.
In July, Smitha Hariharan joined Gulfstream as its new vice president and chief sustainability officer, having previously held a similar role with the Halliburton group. She told reporters at the event in Farnborough that the company has asked her to take a big-picture view of its sustainability objectives that will cover every aspect of its operations.
The company is now engaged in its second five-year sustainability plan. This has a focus on areas such as recycling, avoiding wasting materials and water, and increased use of sustainable aviation fuel.