Mark Hannant, Alan Peaford/DUBAI
The recovery in oil prices is bringing a sense of economic optimism back to the Middle East. And while defence contractors are talking business at Dubai 2000, the biggest batleground is in the world of the business jet.
The business jet manufacturers want to turn optimism into long-term financial commitment - and are hoping for sales here at the show.
The increased range of the current generation of business jets opens the skies to Europe or Asia and makes them attractive propositions in the region.
Gulfstream is in bullish mood, arriving to announce delivery of its 63rd and the sale of the 150th Gulfstream V ultra long range aircraft.
An upbeat Bryan Moss, Gulfstream vice-chairman, makes a robust case for Gulfstream, saying the sales figures demonstrate an "overwhelming acceptance of the world's first and most advanced ultra long-range business jet. The market has spoken - they want 'technology that works'."
Gulfstream claims that since the first Gulfstream V entered customer service in 1997 its 63 deliveries of ultra long-range business jets compare with only two from all other competitors.
That claim is one that surprises Bombardier, Gulfstream's major competitor in the ultra long-range market, which brings the largest representation to the show with four aircraft from its business aircraft range: Global Express, Challenger 604, Learjet 60 and the debuting Learjet 45.
Sales of the Global Express began more than a year after Gulfstream V and the company is now full-out in catching up with deliveries. "We have actually delivered 26 aircraft compared with Gulfstream's 63, with four in service and 22 at completion centres," says Mike Cappuccitti, Bombardier's regional vice president for the middle east." We are pretty bullish about the way things are going. The order book is very strong and the first aircraft in service have been trouble free for the customers.
"Contrary to what Gulfstream may say we are actually dominating this region's market for the wide bodied aircraft. We have something like 75% of the orders - and that is what counts."
The bigger aircraft - the Airbus 319 in corporate configuration and the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) - are also competing here at Dubai. With a range of more than 6,000nm the BBJ - a derivative of the next generation 737-700 for corporate and VIP applications - offers the range demanded by potential customers in the region.
All will be staking their claim for the top end of the market.
Gulfstream's Moss says: "We expect the Gulfstream V to continue to outpace the competition, not only in sales and deliveries, but also with technology and safety advancements such as the Enhanced Vision System. Furthermore the Gulfstream V delivers on its promise of speed, range, price, weights and delivery schedule."
Source: Flight Daily News
