Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600

Over the following paragraphs we’ll consider key productivity parameters for the Bombardier Global 6500 and Gulfstream G600 private jets for sale (including payload, range, speed, and cabin size) to establish which aircraft provides the better value in the Ultra-Long-Range and Large Cabin Jet market.

Does a higher purchase price with lower operating costs drive a purchase decision? It is hoped that the following private jet comparison will help clarify.

Bombardier Global 6500

The Bombardier Global 6500 is a new member of the long-established Global family of business jets, offering a range of 6,636 nautical miles and a high level of comfort cabin. The aircraft features a re-designed wing and new Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines to achieve its impressive range, and a top speed of Mach 0.9. The Global 6500 received Type Certification in September 2019 from Transport Canada, and in December 2019 from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The Global 6500’s cockpit is the first in the industry to offer a combined vision system, seamlessly merging enhanced and synthetic vision images in a single view on the head-up display. This simultaneously helps reduce crew workload and increase situational awareness.

As of this writing, there were 34 wholly-owned Bombardier Global 6500 business jets, and one in fractional ownership, giving a total of 35 jets in operation worldwide. Thirteen jets (37% of the fleet) were based in the United States.

Gulfstream G600

The Gulfstream G600 is also a very new business jet on the market, having entered service in 2019, replacing the Gulfstream G550. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines, the G600 can reach a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet, and a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.925.

The Gulfstream G600’s advanced ventilation system can replace the air in the cabin with 100% fresh air in just two minutes, helping reduce the effects of jet lag. In the cockpit, the G600 is equipped with the intelligence-by-wire flight system, providing highly calibrated flight controls, autothrottles and autobrakes and ensuring peak engine performance and smoother landings.

Meanwhile, the jet’s EVS is linked to a head-up display which projects the EVS view on to a transparent screen in the pilot’s forward field of vision.

At the time of writing, 51 wholly-owned Gulfstream G600 business jets, and one G600 in shared ownership, comprised the fleet of 52 jets in operation worldwide. Forty-three jets (83% of the fleet) were based in the US.

Payload & Range Comparison

When comparing business jets, an important area for potential operators to focus on is payload capability, and especially the ‘Available Payload with Maximum Fuel’. Table A shows the Bombardier Global 6500 ‘Available Payload with Maximum Fuel’ to be 2,805lbs, which is more than the 2,600lbs offered by the Gulfstream G600.

Table A - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Payload Comparison

Cabin Comparison

As shown in Chart A, the cabin height, at 6.2ft is the same for both aircraft. However, the Bombardier Global 6500 cabin is wider than the Gulfstream G600 (7.9ft vs 7.6ft).

The Gulfstream G600 offers a longer cabin than the Global 6500 (45.2ft vs 43.3ft), which helps it provide more overall cabin volume at 1,884cu.ft, versus 1,720cu.ft. (These cabin volume measurements are the net main seating area, and do not factor the lavatory.)

Configured with executive seating, the Gulfstream G600 provides room for up to sixteen seats with four crew. By comparison, the Global 6500 offers room for thirteen seats, with four crew.

The Gulfstream G600 provides less internal luggage volume than the Global 6500 (175cu.ft vs 195cu.ft), with neither jet offering external luggage capacity.

Chart A - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Cabin Comparison

Range Comparison

Using Wichita, Kansas, as the start point, Chart B shows the Bombardier Global 6500 has a range of 6,636nm with eight passengers and available fuel – which is almost identical to the Gulfstream G600 at 6,630nm.

Note: For business jets, ‘Eight Pax Range’ represents the maximum IFR range of the aircraft at long range cruise. The NBAA IFR fuel reserve calculation is for a 200nm alternate. This range does not include winds aloft or any other weather related obstacles.

Chart B - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Range Comparison

Powerplant Details

The Global 6500 utilizes two Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines producing 15,125lbst each. These burn 456gal/hr of fuel. By comparison, the Gulfstream G600 flies with two Pratt & Whitney PW815GA engines, providing 15,680lbst each and burning 421gal/hr of fuel.

Cost per Mile Comparison

Chart C details the ‘Cost per Mile’, comparing the Bombardier Global 6500 and Gulfstream G600 and factoring direct costs with each aircraft flying a 6,000nm mission with a 1,600lbs (eight passengers) payload. As shown, the Global 6500 has a higher cost per mile at $8.42 per nautical mile. This is 6.9% more expensive to operate than the Gulfstream G600 ($7.88 per nautical mile).

Chart C - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Cost Per Mile Comparison

Variable Cost Comparison

The ‘Variable Cost’, illustrated in Chart D, is defined as the estimated cost of fuel, Maintenance labor, scheduled parts, and miscellaneous trip expenses (e.g., hangar, crew and catering). These costs DO NOT represent a direct source into every flight department and their trip support expenses.

For comparative purposes, the costs presented are the relative differences, not the actual differences since these may vary from one flight department to another. The Gulfstream G600 ($2,708/hr.) has a marginally lower variable cost than the Bombardier Global 6500 ($2,757/hr.).

Chart D - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Variable Cost Comparison

Market Comparison Table

Table B contains the new prices (per B&CA) for the Bombardier Global 6500 and the Gulfstream G600 ($56m and $58.5m, respectively). This is a difference of $2.5m.

Also, listed are the long-range cruise speed and range numbers (per B&CA). The number of aircraft in-operation, the percentage for sale, and average sold are from JETNET.

There were 35 Global 6500 jets with none of the fleet ‘for sale’ at the time of writing. The average number of new/used transactions (units sold) per month over the previous 12 months was two for the Global 6500, and two for the Gulfstream G600 – which had 1.9% of the fleet for sale as of this writing.

Table B - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Market Comparison

Maximum Scheduled Maintenance Equity

Chart E and Chart F display the Bombardier Global 6500 and Gulfstream G600, respectively, and depict/project the Maximum Maintenance Equity each jet has available based on its age. Note:

• The Maximum Maintenance Equity figure was achieved the day an aircraft came off the production line (since it had not accumulated any utilization toward any maintenance events).

• The percent of the Maximum Maintenance Equity that an average aircraft will have available, based on its age, assumes:

- Average annual utilization of 470 flight hours (in the case of the Global 6500) and 420 flight hours (in the case of the Gulfstream G600); and

- All maintenance is completed when due.

The Bombardier Global 6500 shows $2.244m less average maximum maintenance equity than the Gulfstream G600, but is projected to show a substantial increase between Years 14 and 15.

Bombardier Global 6500 (Chart E) & Gulfstream G600 (Chart F) Average Maximum Maintenance Equity

Depreciation Schedule

Aircraft that are owned and operated by businesses are often depreciable for income tax purposes under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). Under MACRS, taxpayers can use accelerated depreciation of assets by taking a greater percentage of the deductions during the first few years of the applicable recovery period.

In certain cases, aircraft may not qualify under the MACRS system and must be depreciated under the less favorable Alternative Depreciation System (ADS), based on a straight-line method, meaning that equal deductions are taken during each year of the applicable recovery period. In most cases, recovery periods under ADS are longer than recovery periods available under MACRS.

There is a variety of factors that taxpayers must consider in determining if an aircraft may be depreciated, and, if so, the correct depreciation method and recovery period that should be utilized. For example, aircraft used in charter service (i.e. Part 135) are normally depreciated under MACRS over a seven-year recovery period, or under ADS using a twelveyear recovery period.

Aircraft used for qualified business purposes, such as Part 91 business use flights, are generally depreciated under MACRS over a period of five years or by using ADS with a seven-year recovery period. There are certain uses of the aircraft, such as non-business flights, that may have an impact on the allowable depreciation deduction available in any given year.

The US enacted the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act into law on December 22, 2017. Under the Act, taxpayers may be able to deduct up to 100% of the cost of a new or pre-owned aircraft purchased and placed in service before January 1, 2023.

This 100% expensing provision is a huge bonus for aircraft owners and operators. After December 31, 2022 the Act decreases the percentage available each year by 20% to depreciate qualified business jets until December 31, 2026.

Table C depicts an example of using the MACRS schedule for a 2021-model Bombardier Global 6500 in private (Part 91) and charter (Part 135) operations over five- and seven-year periods. The price is as published by B&CA at the time of writing. 

Table C - Bombardier Global 6500 Sample MACRS Tax Schedule

Table D depicts an example of using the MACRS schedule for a 2021-edition Gulfstream G600 in private (Part 91) and charter (Part 135) operations over five- and seven-year periods. The price is per B&CA at the time of writing.

Table D - Gulfstream G600 Sample MACRS Tax Schedule

Asking Prices & Quantity

At the time of writing, there was one Gulfstream G600 business jets available for sale on the used aircraft market that invited an offer. As mentioned already, there were no Global 6500 available for sale on the used market.

While each aircraft serial number is unique, the Airframe Total Time (AFTT) and age/condition will cause great variation in the price of a pre-owned specific aircraft – even between two aircraft from the same year of manufacture. The final negotiated price remains to be decided between the seller and buyer before the sale of an aircraft is completed.

The points in Chart G (right) are centered on the same aircraft. Pricing used in the horizontal axis is as published in B&CA. The productivity index requires further discussion since factors used can be somewhat arbitrary. Productivity can be defined (and it is here) as the multiple of three factors:

1. Eight Passenger Range (nm) with available fuel
2. The long-range cruise speed flown to achieve that range
3. The cabin volume available for passengers and amenities

Others may choose different parameters, but serious business aircraft buyers are usually impressed with price, range, speed, and cabin size.

Chart G - Bombardier Global 6500 vs Gulfstream G600 Productivity Comparison

The Higher Purchase Price With Lower Operating Costs Question

The two aircraft featured in this month’s jet comparison are very well matched. The Bombardier Global 6500 offers very similar speed and range as the Gulfstream G600, while offering greater ‘Available Payload with Maximum Fuel’. However, the Gulfstream G600 cabin volume is greater. 

The purchase price for a brand new Gulfstream G600 is higher than the Global 6500 ($58.5m vs $56m), but the hourly variable operating cost, and cost per mile are slightly lower.

Prospective buyers must weigh the capabilities of each jet very carefully against their specific mission need to determine which model is the best fit for their flight operation. A further consideration will come into play once these jets build a track-record in the pre-owned market, when it becomes possible to see how each model depreciates.

Within these paragraphs we have touched upon several of the attributes that business jet operators value, although there are other qualities, such as airport performance, terminal area performance and time-to-climb that might factor in a buying decision.

Ultimately, there is plenty for a prospective buyer to consider when deciding which performance criteria is better suited to them in an aircraft. Both business jets offer great value in the market today.

To see all the jets and articles related to Bombardier Global 6500 and Gulfstream G600, please visit our Bombardier Jets and Gulfstream Jets pages.