Gulfstream Rear Galley Option - Thoughts/Experience?
 

Hello...!

As part of my exploration into the industry, looking at types, cabins and the likes, in preparation for any work possibilities that may arise, one area of interest has been galleys and equipment onboard varying types.

I have noted that it appears to be only Gulfstream who offer a galley at the rear of the cabin. Which to me looks to be an interesting option.

Just wondering if anyone has experience of operating on a Gulfstream with the rear galley, and how you find it? Both in terms of flight and cabin crew? Do you find that communication between flight and cabin crew is more difficult with the two work areas being separated, especially with single cabin crew operations?

Probably seems an odd thing to wonder or think about... But I am curious.

Hope you are all well,

Regards,

TS
:)

We are a single FA setup, and cant say we have hassles whatsoever with communication. I would actually find it odd to move back to a front galley setup.

A minor point if operating in the Mid East for example would be during Ramadan, it means the cockpit crew meals need to come from the back, with many passengers finding this unacceptable, in which case we generally survive on sandwiches and cold meals stored up front.

Also, if the pax are sleeping, its sometimes necessary to hold out on crew meals in order not to wake the them.

Those would be the only two negatives we experience with an aft galley. I like that its out of the 'cockpit', and feel that it opens up the vestibule somewhat. Real or imagined....:ok:

For us the galley is in the front, we probably carry the largest crew complement of any Gulfstream operator, so it makes sense to have them all located at the front, that way the passengers can shut off the aft cabin and have total privacy with access to toilet, shower etc. It also means that garbage can be removed from the aircraft without destroying the carpet.

Mutt

Speaking from the competition's view, GLF has turned the design characteristics of the "legacy" fuselage into a marketing angle with the aft galley. The fuse has a large section aft of the cabin without windows and the engine location within the rotor burst zone makes an aft galley attractive, if a dark "cave". It also locates the heaviest item of cabin furnishing aft, avoiding a forward CofG's decrement to cruise drag, hence range.

The GLF's section with the highest decibel count is also aft, the aft galley keeps the passengers forward, in a quieter zone. The Global's quietest zone is the aft area making it an ideal spot for sleeping. It's four or five decibels quieter than the GLF due area ruling the tail and the further aft engine mounting.

F/As seem to like one or the other, depending on experience. The inter-cabin door frequently needs to closed with a forward galley, as food prep, cleanup is in view of the pax, including the inevitable messes. Boarding stores is easier with the forward arrangement, as is trash removal. Esp, when forgotten in the air stairs behind the curtain. :}

All that said, there are trade-offs inherent in any design.

GF

EDIT: You have a shower? How's that fit in the GLF?

Rear galley is the norm with Gulfstream. Usually rear galley interiors done in Savannah and fwd done in Long Beach.

Another FA take on it:

I fly a forward galley GLEX but work with an ex-Gulfstream aft galley FA. She notes that pax often have to use the aft lav just before meal service which can be inconvenient and awkward while preparing the dinner.

I prefer the rear galley, as the galley is not next to crew rest. So you get peaceful rest! Cabin crew like the rear galley as gives you access to the luggage bay, so handy for catering stores.

Excellent for storing crew baggage, worthless in its original role due amount of water required.

Mutt

Thank you very much for the replies... I was surprised to see so many this morning! :ok:

Some very valid practicality points raised, of which most had crossed my mind. I did wonder about the Ramadan issue mentioned by I.R.Pirate having just operated 2 ME trips and having to have had conversations with passengers about why we are still serving food on the flight, despite it being Ramadan etc...

Also, ksjc, I did think about that too, with the layout of the galley in front of the toilet, would seem rather impractical if you are assembling plates and have all your catering set up in the galley and have people back and forth to the bathroom. Obviously it is not the same as having 235 down the back of a jumbo, but still, something to be mindful of.

TS
:)

Unless a client specifically requested a rear galley I would never normally recommend this option.

Several disadvantages associated with rear galleys have been highlighted above and with which I concur.

A forward galley/cabin crew station permits:

* Increased rear cabin privacy
* Improved crew communications through advantageous cockpit-galley proximity
* Improved convenience for last-minute catering deliveries
* Strategic positioning for supporting pax embarkation and disembarkation

Additionally, always incorporate front and rear lavatories when ordering a new aircraft so that the crew don't need to traipse through the cabin to relieve themselves. :ok:

from Flight Deck perspective
 

Prefer forward galley:

a) did one Atlantic trip when we had rear galley on G550. unable for CC to get to galley due to sleeping pax.
b) get forward toilet certainly.
c) the crew rest area is a joke regardless.

Glf

Just to be clear here... I am not buying an aircraft... :(

I am just looking at it in terms of working on one... :8

Savoia, all very good points indeed, and, despite having never worked on G anything, I would agree.

Gulfstreamaviator, again, nail hit squarely on head. Advantages of forward galley complex versus rear seem to be all too obvious. It does make one wonder why Gulfstream offer it as an option.

I wonder, could it be anything to do with:

I wonder what the G7 will have.

It would be interesting to see if the wingspan constantly increases - maybe one day (G8) we will see a 50m Gulfstream wingspan! :eek: :p

There are reasons to have an aft galley on a Gulfstream, more so on the G4/450, than the 5/550/650

1. Weight and Ballance with aft galley is far better on the 4/450. Not so much a factor on the 5/550/650

2. The cabin is quiter with the aft galley due to its placement between the motors

3. You don't lose a window with an aft galley ( not a factor in the 650)

4. And you don't have to pull the galley out during inspection time to inspect the window that is covered by the forward galley.

Both configurations have their benefits!

Gulfstream offers this option because customers request it.

My opinion is that the aft galley is a better choice. One reason not already mentioned is because of crew rest certification. Some (not all) FAA POI's require an aft galley for certification of the crew rest area, feeling that the noise and smell from the galley prevents adequate rest.

I believe all 550's have a forward lav, I've not seen one without, but there are two types of lavs, one where the crew rest should be, and another a "pocket lav" where you must open two doors.

For you Bombardier fan boys, I watched a 605 get grounded last month and require a new $30,000 ground spoiler control card due to the CA spilling coffee in the galley, and it dripped down into the avionics bay. Ooooops! I'll stick with my "legacy" 550 that dispatches always and can make it from Hong Kong to London without refueling!

FR

Interesting points... Thanks.

We have had issues over time with galley spills effecting avionics bays, especially on the 767 aircraft.

Aft galley and aft toilet
 

I still maintain that the aft galley is a big mistake.

Passengers must transit galley to get to toilet.

Is this desirable.

As mentioned before forward galley enable crew to have hot food, on a 15 hour flight...... at the mercy of sleeping passengers.

If aft divan converted to bed, then CC is stuck in Galley, (even with heated floor ) and FD might have use of the Mini Galley up front, ie Mapco, chiller draw, and the pocket toilet.

As an aside, always specify the " optional" knee hold for the toilets. if over 5ft 10, they are essential for the gentlemen.

Re the Crew rest area approval, I would agree that the aft galley is better, but does not solve the flight deck noise / chatter.


Glf

It does make one wonder why Gulfstream offer it as an option.

When the GV was first approved by the JAA they severely restricted the forward c of g limit such that with a forward galley it was possible that the empty aircraft already exceeded the limit.