Trailblazing Green Skies

An ambitious target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 stares the aviation industry in the eye as it grapples with mounting pressure to decarbonise. Amidst this, Gulfstream Aerospace stands as a pioneering force, charting a greener course long before sustainability became a regulatory requirement or a branding imperative. Back in 2015, Gulfstream took a bold step that would place it ahead of the industry curve when it became the first business jet manufacturer to secure a consistent supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through an agreement with World Fuel Services.

That early move was strategic and positioned Gulfstream not just as an early adopter, but as a sustainability leader among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Ten years later, this commitment has evolved into a multidimensional sustainability program that spans aircraft innovation, renewable energy integration, eco-conscious infrastructure, and global climate collaboration.

“AT GULFSTREAM, LEADING OUR INDUSTRY CLOSER TO DECARBONISATION IS A LONG-STANDING PRIORITY, AND TESTING, EVALUATING AND PROMOTING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SAF TAKES US ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO THAT GOAL”
—MARK BURNS, PRESIDENT, GULFSTREAM

However, Gulfstream had started to make a sustainable statement even before 2015. In 2011, Gulfstream G450 became the first business jet to complete a trans-Atlantic flight using SAF.

Continuing the efforts, the company has also greatly increased its use of SAF. It surpassed 2 million nautical miles flown using SAF blends in 2022, and today is well on its way to 3 million. In 2023, Gulfstream completed the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight using 100 per cent SAF. It maintains a consistent, dedicated supply of SAF for daily operations, and in 2019 became the first OEM to make SAF available to customers. In addition, the company has pledged to achieve carbon-neutral status for all Airborne Customer Support, demo and corporate flights from 2023 onward, using SAF and carbon offsets, and is active in promoting the benefits of SAF to others in business aviation.

And in 2023, Gulfstream became the first OEM to earn all four accreditations offered by NBAA’s Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation Program, in Flight, Operations, Ground Support and Infrastructure. Getting these accreditations took work, but NBAA’s tool sets and personal attention made for an exceptional learning experience.

“These accreditations show the success of our long-term sustainability journey. The biggest opportunity that business aviation has to drive sustainability today is to get enough operators using SAF that fuel manufacturers start making SAF available across the country and around the world,” said Scott Evans, Director of Demonstration, Airborne Customer Support and Corporate Flight Ops at Gulfstream.

THE SAF REVOLUTION: GULFSTREAM’S BOLDEST FLIGHT PATH

At the heart of Gulfstream’s sustainability story is its groundbreaking SAF strategy. Since that first SAF delivery in 2016, the company has scaled up its usage of renewable fuels across test, corporate, and demonstration flights. It has worked with engine manufacturers and regulators to validate SAF’s safety and performance, culminating in some of the most significant milestones in business aviation’s green transition.

Some of these recent milestones include:

• 2022: The Gulfstream G650 became the first business jet to fly with 100 per cent SAF in one engine.
• 2023: The G600 completed the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100 per cent SAF in both engines, a historic achievement that redefined what sustainable business aviation can look like.
• 2025: Ground emissions testing using 100 per cent unblended SAF in the Rolls-Royce Pearl 700, exclusive to the G700 and G800, showed highly promising outcomes including reduced particulate matter, minimal sulfur, and the potential to cut contrail formation, a contributor to aviation’s climate impact. These are all part of Gulfstream’s continuous testing, validation, and advocacy efforts aimed at normalising SAF as the fuel of the future.

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE AT SCALE

While green skies are critical, Gulfstream knows that sustainability doesn’t begin or end on the runway. The company’s commitment extends to its facilities, supply chain, and ground operations. Its LEED- and BREEAM-certified buildings now total more than 2.3 million square feet globally, a feat that places Gulfstream among the most environmentally advanced OEMs in any industrial sector.

IN 2021, GULFSTREAM BECAME THE FIRST BUSINESS JET OEM TO SIGN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S CLEAN SKIES FOR TOMORROW 2030 AMBITION STATEMENT

Most recently in 2025, Gulfstream expanded its Savannah campus with a 1,65,000-square-foot LEED Silver-certified Service Center East, reflecting the company’s commitment to resource-efficient building design. This complements similar facilities in Van Nuys, Appleton, Farnborough, and elsewhere.

In 2023, Gulfstream added solar panels to its Savannah Research and Development Campus, powering its engineering and innovation teams with clean electricity. These initiatives speak to Gulfstream’s goal of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions while future-proofing its operations against carbon pricing and climate regulation.

EFFICIENT AIRCRAFT INNOVATION

Product innovation remains the cornerstone of Gulfstream’s sustainability philosophy. Each new generation of jets is not only more luxurious but also significantly more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

The G700, which entered service in 2024, exemplifies this philosophy. It combines Rolls-Royce’s Pearl 700 engines with Gulfstream’s proprietary clean-wing and aerodynamic winglet designs, enabling higher speed, longer range, and lower fuel consumption. Its sister aircraft, the G800, took its maiden flight in 2022, also powered by SAF blends in both engines.

These aircraft are proof that sustainability and performance are not mutually exclusive. In fact, for Gulfstream, they are increasingly synonymous.

CERTIFYING COMMITMENT

Beyond operational actions, Gulfstream has also sought independent validation of its sustainability practices:

• Its Farnborough customer support facility earned ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
• The company received the Sustainability Leadership Award from the Business Intelligence Group in both 2019 and 2022.
• In a notable industry first, Gulfstream earned all four NBAA Sustainable Flight Department Accreditations&mdsash;covering flight, ground support, operations, and infrastructure&mdsash;in 2023.

Such certifications reinforce that Gulfstream’s efforts are not just internal benchmarks, but are externally recognised for their impact.

ALIGNING WITH GLOBAL NET-ZERO GOALS

In 2021, Gulfstream became the first business jet OEM to sign the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow 2030 Ambition Statement. This global pledge aligns Gulfstream with the broader mission of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with SAF playing a pivotal role in the transition.

This alignment underscores Gulfstream’s role not only as a business aviation leader but as an industry influencer, actively participating in shaping policy, investing in SAF development, and encouraging industry-wide adoption.

Gulfstream’s sustainability strategy encompasses three pillars &mdsash; energy and emissions; operations; and culture and learning &mdsash; and supports industry goals established by the NBAA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The goals are a 2 per cent improvement in fuel-efficiency per year from 2010 to 2020; carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onward; and net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

“At Gulfstream, leading our industry closer to decarbonisation is a long-standing priority, and testing, evaluating and promoting new developments in SAF takes us another step closer to that goal,” said Mark Burns, President, Gulfstream. “Gulfstream has long prioritised sustainable products and practices through innovations in aerodynamics, aircraft technologies, engineering, manufacturing and infrastructure, as well as in facilities operations and our investments in SAF research and development.”

GULFSTREAM’S SAF-POWERED PROGRESS: A TIMELINE OF GREEN AVIATION MILESTONES

Gulfstream Aerospace’s commitment to sustainable aviation is not confined to pledges or future intentions, it’s been taking shape mile by mile, flight by flight, steadily advancing the case for cleaner skies, proving not only SAF’s technical viability but its compatibility with high-performance, long-range business jets.

SAF is derived from renewable or waste-based feedstocks, such as agricultural residue, used cooking oil, and non-fossil waste materials. When compared with conventional jet fuel, SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent over its lifecycle. While not a silver bullet, it’s currently the most impactful decarbonisation solution available for aviation and Gulfstream has been at the forefront of demonstrating its potential.

HISTORIC SAF FLIGHTS BY GULFSTREAM

• 2023 – First Transatlantic Flight on 100 per cent SAF: One of Gulfstream’s most groundbreaking achievements came on November 20, 2023, when a Gulfstream G600 completed the first-ever transatlantic flight powered by 100 per cent SAF in both engines. The aircraft flew from Savannah, Georgia, to Farnborough, England, clocking a flight time of nearly seven hours. This mission not only demonstrated SAF’s long-haul capability but also marked a turning point in business aviation’s green revolution. Pratt & Whitney, Safran, Eaton, World Fuel Services, and World Energy were partners with the OEM for this flight.
• 2022 – First Flight Using 100 per cent SAF in One Engine: On December 16, 2022, a Gulfstream G650 became the first business jet to fly with one engine running exclusively on a 100 per cent SAF blend. The mix included 90 per cent HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) and 10 per cent SAK (Synthesised Aromatic Kerosene)&mdsash;a blend designed to mimic the properties of conventional jet fuel while minimizing carbon footprint. This flight was done in partnership with Rolls-Royce, World Fuel Services, and World Energy.
• 2022 – G800’s Maiden Flight with SAF Blend: The Gulfstream G800, representing the future of ultra-long-range business travel, took its first flight on June 28, 2022, powered by a 30/70 SAF to Jet A blend. This early commitment to SAF in the aircraft’s testing and certification phase reinforced Gulfstream’s integration of sustainability from the drawing board to delivery.
• 2020 – G700 Takes Off with SAF: Even before certification, the Gulfstream G700 joined the sustainable flight movement. Its first flight on February 14, 2020, was powered by a 30/70 blend of SAF and Jet A across both Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, setting the tone for what would become a flagship sustainability platform.

PIONEERING INTERNATIONAL GREEN ROUTES

• In May 2016, Gulfstream sent its G450 and G550 demonstration aircraft from Savannah to Geneva for the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE)&mdsash;both powered by 30/70 SAF blends made from agricultural waste. The symbolic transatlantic delivery flight helped raise awareness and push regulatory discussions about SAF in Europe.
• As early as October 2011, Gulfstream had already etched its name in sustainability history. A G450 flew from Morristown, New Jersey, to Paris, France, with one engine powered by a 50/50 SAF blend derived from camelina, marking the first transatlantic flight by a business jet using SAF.

FLEET DEMONSTRATIONS AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

Gulfstream also brought SAF to major industry events, showcasing its readiness across a full fleet. In 2012, a fleet of five aircraft, including the G650, G550, G450, G280, and G150, departed Savannah for the NBAA Convention in Orlando, powered by a 50/50 camelina-based SAF blend and that has continued for further events since then. Each event underscored Gulfstream’s ongoing strategy: proving that every aircraft in its lineup could operate safely, efficiently, and reliably on SAF blends, well before mandates or industry pressure made it commonplace.

IN 2023, GULFSTREAM BECAME THE FIRST OEM TO EARN ALL FOUR ACCREDITATIONS OFFERED BY NBAA’S SUSTAINABLE FLIGHT DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION PROGRAM, IN FLIGHT, OPERATIONS, GROUND SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

These flight milestones reflect a long-term strategy to normalise SAF use and promote industry partnerships, and influence global aviation efforts towards net zero. By rigorously testing SAF in real-world scenarios, across diverse routes and aircraft platforms, Gulfstream continues to validate the fuel’s promise&mdsash;while reinforcing its place as a trailblazer in sustainable aviation.

With each milestone flight, Gulfstream brings the industry one step closer to decarbonising the skies&mdsash; proving that even in luxury aviation, climate responsibility and performance can soar together.

In 2021, when Gulfstream signed the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow 2030 Burns said, “For more than 60 years, Gulfstream has moved business aviation forward, setting the standards for performance, innovation, safety and comfort. The Clean Skies for Tomorrow 2030 Ambition Statement is a call to action to grow the supply and use of SAF. We are committed to continuing to use and promote SAF. We hope that our signing and focus on this ambitious goal will be the first of many more manufacturers to follow.”

As 2030 approaches, Gulfstream’s sustainability journey is entering a new phase. The company is expected to continue investing in advanced SAF testing and sourcing, sustainable supply chains and lifecycle analysis, low-carbon propulsion research, possibly including hybrid-electric systems, and waste and water conservation across global operations. More importantly, Gulfstream’s internal culture, from its engineering floors to executive offices, is increasingly driven by the imperative to design and operate in harmony with the planet.

As their mission statement affirms, “Our breakthrough aircraft innovations, renewable fuel leadership and business practices reflect our commitment to a more sustainable path forward.”

For Gulfstream, the skies are not just the limit&mdsash;they’re a responsibility. And after a decade of measurable action, the company continues to define what it means to fly sustainably in the 21st century.