GII and GIII Reengine Plan Awaits Gulfstream's Blessing

Garrett Aviation Services is urging Gulfstream to support its plan to reengine the GIIs and GIIIs with CF34-8s from GE.

Repeated market surveys by Garrett indicate strong demand for the upgrade, according to Jim Thompson, director of marketing and programs. The modification would reduce the noise footprint at takeoff by 85% at takeoff and provide a 40% margin over the upcoming international aircraft emission standards.

The new engines would allow GII and GIII operators virtually unrestricted access to airports worldwide. It also gives the aircraft about 600 nmi more range, Thompson said.

Customer interest for the Gulfstream reengining is stronger than it was for Garrett's similar-and very successful-Falcon 20F reengining at a similar point in the program, Thompson said. Garrett's latest market survey, conducted in June, covered 73 Gulfstream GII and GIII operators flying 95 aircraft. About 60% of those flight department managers polled indicated they would seriously entertain a re-engining program, he said.

The modification will cost about $9.5 million, less the value of the two Rolls-Royce Spey engines retained by the customer, estimated at about $1 million. There is a 400 aircraft potential for the re-engining program and Garrett envisions capturing about 100 of them, Thompson said.

Top officials at Gulfstream Aerospace have been briefed on the re-engining, Thompson said. Garrett is looking for Gulfstream to provide certification data support. It also has offered Gulfstream the option to perform modification engineering work. Garrett, however, is prepared to go forward with the program on its own, Thompson said.

Program momentum is aided by the specification of the required CF34-8 engine by Dornier and Bombardier to power some of their new regional airliner projects. Engine certification date now is set for early 2000.

By Paul Proctor