Gulfstream News

A London business jet broker reports it has sold a Gulfstream G650 business jet for an owner who took delivery in July. The jet went to a Japanese real estate firm for $70 million, netting a profit of $10 million in the process. If you do not know, a G650 is generally listed around the $64.5 million dollar mark. In September, billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula 1 auto racing, sold his G650 to a Japanese businessman for $72 million.

Did you know GulfstreamAero is the only business-jet manufacturer to offer factory service in China?

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently recognized the first anniversary of its service center, Gulfstream Beijing, at Beijing Capital International Airport. Gulfstream is the only business-jet manufacturer to offer factory service in China. "It has been a successful first year for Gulfstream Beijing,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “We have experienced steady growth and have expanded our capabilities. As the Gulfstream fleet continues to grow in the Asia-Pacific region, we’ll look for ways to enhance and add to the services we provide at Gulfstream Beijing.”

More than 220 Gulfstream aircraft are based in the Asia-Pacific region, including well over 100 in China and Hong Kong combined. The company’s fleet has tripled since 2008.Gulfstream Beijing technicians have serviced more than 120 aircraft since the facility began operations in November 2012. That number includes hangar visits, aircraft elsewhere at Beijing Capital International Airport and throughout greater China, Japan and South Korea. China-based operators represent more than half of those customers.

Gulfstream Beijing is a joint venture between Gulfstream and Hainan Airlines Group subsidiaries Hainan Aviation Technik and Beijing Capital Airlines Co. Ltd. Gulfstream and Hainan Airlines Group have nearly 20 electrical and mechanical technicians at the facility, which is overseen by general manager Kay Ardalan. Gulfstream Beijing earned its Part 145 maintenance facility certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in November 2012, which allows its technicians to perform airframe maintenance and avionics installation and repairs on G550, G450 and G200 aircraft registered in China. Gulfstream Beijing technicians can also work on the same aircraft models registered in Hong Kong and Macau.

The Gulfstream technicians on site are certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and can support U.S.-based Gulfstream operators of any model in aircraft-on-ground situations in greater China, Japan and South Korea. Gulfstream Beijing comprises an 82,000-square-foot/7,618-square-meter hangar and 22,000 square feet/2,044 square meters of offices and back shops. Gulfstream’s large presence in the Asia-Pacific region also includes a sales office and parts warehouse in Beijing; a sales office, product support office, parts warehouse and flight operations department in Hong Kong; and a sales office and parts warehouse in Singapore.

UK investigators are examining a Gulfstream G550 which damaged the instrument landing system at London Stansted airport during an early morning arrival yesterday. The accident forced the site to downgrade its low-visibility capability. The luxury business jet aircraft was apparently Saudi-registered (HZ-A6). Reports suggest that it touched down some 82-feet short of the runway threshold while landing at about 03:30 on 10 December. The long-range, large cabin business jet struck an antenna and suffered undercarriage door damage as well as scratches.

If you are into who works at Gulfstream and does what, appointments happen from time to time, here are the latest.

http://www.gulfstream.com/news/releases/2013/gulfstream-names-scott-clarey-north-america-sales-director-west.htm

http://www.gulfstream.com/news/releases/2013/gulfstream-names-kevin-brink-north-america-sales-director-west.htm

Interior of a Gulfstream G450

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGASGDChWVY

Interview with experimental Gulfstream Aerospace test pilot onboard a G650 talking about the round-the-world record they set back in last July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiY58F0mKCU

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it will expand its industry-leading aircraft service and support organization by adding a new worldwide Product Support Distribution Center (PSDC) located in the NorthPort Industrial Park near the Interstate 95 and Georgia Highway 21 interchange in Savannah. The new building is expected to be completed in early 2015 and will consolidate the company’s worldwide material distribution departments, which are currently housed in several warehouse buildings near the main Gulfstream campus. The PSDC will be home to more than 300 employees and approximately $900 million in parts and materials inventory. Gulfstream maintains a worldwide spares support inventory of more than $1.4 billion, the largest in the business aviation industry.

“This will be a state-of-the-art facility that will improve our parts and materials capacity and further enhance the speed and service capabilities of our distribution network,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “The technology and processes we have invested in will give us the ability to match the increasing demand for parts for an ever-growing worldwide Gulfstream fleet.” The build-to-suit facility comprises approximately 338,100 square feet/31,411 square meters of storage/production area for aircraft parts and materials and approximately 67,800 square feet/6,299 square meters of office space on three levels. The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) assisted Gulfstream with the site selection. “We are grateful to SEDA for its partnership in facilitating this transaction and its continued support of Gulfstream’s expansion efforts,” said Jay Neely, vice president, Law and Public Affairs, Gulfstream.

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Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed David Pearman as general manager of its service center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Pearman had served as general manager of Gulfstream’s component repair facility in Lincoln, Calif., since January 2008. In his new role, Pearman will handle the daily operations of Gulfstream West Palm Beach. He reports to Darrell Frey, director, Regional Service Center Operations, Gulfstream.

“David’s leadership and dedication helped transform Gulfstream Lincoln into a busy and valuable facility for the company,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “Customers and David’s new team at West Palm Beach will benefit from his experience and his extensive knowledge of the business.”

Before taking over at Gulfstream Lincoln, Pearman was general manager of the company’s Las Vegas service center from August 2004 to January 2008. He also spent four years at Gulfstream Westfield in Massachusetts, where he was senior operations manager and service center manager. Pearman began his aviation career in 1994 as an airframe and powerplant mechanic at the Gulfstream Long Beach Service Center in California. Gulfstream West Palm Beach has more than 130 employees, including 75 technicians. The site comprises two service hangars with approximately 46,000 square feet/4,274 square meters of floor space. Gulfstream West Palm Beach is authorized to work on aircraft registered in the United States, European Union, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Peru and Venezuela.

31 years ago today, a GIII landed at TEB after flying around the world in 47 hours and 39 minutes, a world record!

http://ow.ly/i/4fR40

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed Fabio Rebello as regional senior vice president, International Sales, Florida and Latin America. He reports to Scott Neal, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing. Rebello is responsible for sales to new and existing customers in Florida and Latin America, including the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and South America. He will be based in Orlando, Fla.

Rebello’s appointment reflects Gulfstream’s increased focus on Latin America and Asia. Roger Sperry, who had been representing Gulfstream in South America and the Far East, is now regional senior vice president, International Sales, Asia Pacific. “Fabio has deep roots in the aviation industry in Latin America,” Neal said. “His unique knowledge of the market will help advance Gulfstream’s ever-expanding presence in the region. With Roger now focusing exclusively on the market in Asia Pacific, the company is well positioned in both regions. Customers will have even easier access to our team’s aviation knowledge, experience and expertise.”

Rebello, an aviation industry veteran, comes to Gulfstream from Bombardier Aerospace, where he had been regional vice president of sales for Latin America since 2002. He also worked for Raytheon Aircraft Co. in São Paulo, Brazil, where he was regional sales director for South America. He began his career in aviation as an engineer at Embraer S.A. Rebello, who was born in Brazil, has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica in São José dos Campos, Brazil. He also has a degree in finance administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo. Rebello is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Gulfstream today...

We're expanding our maintenance facility in Brunswick, Ga, and creating 100 new

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it will expand its service center at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga. The company signed a lease with the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority to develop a $25 million, 110,000-square-foot/10,219-square-meter maintenance repair and overhaul facility near its two existing hangars. The expansion is expected to create 100 additional jobs, a 50 percent increase in the size of Gulfstream Brunswick’s current workforce.

Groundbreaking is slated for later this year. Construction is scheduled to be completed by May 2015.

“Brunswick played a significant role in what was a record-setting 2013 for our service organization worldwide,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “The growth of our fleet has increased the demand for aircraft maintenance and refurbishment. Expanding in Brunswick keeps us well-positioned to continue to provide the best customer service and product support available.” Attending the expansion announcement were Gulfstream Brunswick’s employees as well as state and local dignitaries, including Chris Carr, the head of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Gulfstream Brunswick, located about 75 miles south of Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, has been a company site since 1992. It is home to a service center and completions facility spread over approximately 55,000 square feet/5,110 square meters of hangar space. In 2013, its employees serviced more than 150 aircraft. The service center is a certified U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada repair station.

“This expansion would not be possible without the efforts of many, including Gov. Nathan Deal and his team at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Glynn County commissioners, the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority and the Glynn County Airport Commission,” said Jay Neely, vice president, Law and Public Affairs, Gulfstream. “We are very thankful for their support in ensuring this project’s success.”

Gov. Deal issued this statement: “We are honored when international companies such as Gulfstream choose to call Georgia home. Our more than 20-year partnership with Gulfstream underscores their faith in our business climate and skilled workforce. This expansion will have a significant economic impact on Brunswick and Glynn County.” Gulfstream is also expanding its Savannah facilities through a $500-million, seven-year plan that has already resulted in more than 2,500 new Gulfstream jobs in three years.

Gulfstream Product Support has created a completions portfolio of in-stock fabrics, leathers and carpets to streamline interior refurbishments. The ‘Gulfstream Portfolio Collection’ should shorten the lead time and cost of the overall process, as it includes (only) three color palettes (beige, tan and taupe).

“We’ve assembled a collection of more than 100 fabrics, 25 carpets and 25 leathers to address the most frequently refreshed items in the cabin: the headliner, upper and lower sidewalls, seating and flooring,” says Gulfstream’s VP Product Support Sales and New Business Development, Mike West. “The extensive selection offers the ability to customize the interiors while at the same time ensuring we have the products ready for use.” (FC)

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has enhanced its support of operators attending major U.S.-based events with the addition of its biggest and most capable Field and Airborne Support Teams (FAST) vehicle, a specially equipped 74-foot/22.6-meter tractor-trailer. The vehicle is debuting for the 2014 Super Bowl, which will be played Sunday, Feb. 2, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“This supersized FAST vehicle allows us to better support big events that get a large volume of Gulfstream traffic,” said Mark Burns, president, Product Support, Gulfstream. “Its size alone enables us to put enough tools, parts and technicians on board to assist multiple operators simultaneously. With built-in features such as a generator, air compressor, satellite dish and Wi-Fi, and capacity to hold equipment as large as an auxiliary power unit, it is a service center on wheels.”

Using the capabilities of the FAST tractor-trailer, on-board technicians can perform:

Line-service repairs
Engine exchanges
Post-flight and storage inspections
Unscheduled inspections
Cabin interior repairs
The tractor-trailer’s features include:

Satellite dish
On-board computer for technical data access
Work stations with full capabilities
Lounge/office
Interior lighting, compressed air and HVAC powered by on-board generator
Kitchen area with refrigerator and freezer

Gulfstream has a fleet of over 100 business aircraft owned and operated in the Arabian Gulf region, with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) representing strong customer basses in the large-cabin market.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently named Susan Herring director, Initial Phase Operations Finance. She reports to Kevin Dutton, vice president, Operations Finance, Gulfstream. In her new role, Herring will direct financial strategies for Initial Phase Operations for all large- cabin programs. In addition, she will work closely with the Material and Procurement team on supplier negotiations for Initial Phase Manufacturing.

“Over the past 14 years, Susan has been the backbone of Initial Phase Manufacturing and Material Finance,” said Dutton. “She has a deep knowledge of the large-cabin product lines and Initial Phase business areas, which, along with her financial expertise and excellent leadership, will serve Gulfstream well.” Herring joined Gulfstream in 2000 as a budget analyst and has held a number of positions, including finance manager of Gulfstream G450 and G550 product lines and senior finance manager of Initial Phase Operations and Advanced Aircraft Programs. Herring earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently named Susan Herring director, Initial Phase Operations Finance. She reports to Kevin Dutton, vice president, Operations Finance, Gulfstream. In her new role, Herring will direct financial strategies for Initial Phase Operations for all large- cabin programs. In addition, she will work closely with the Material and Procurement team on supplier negotiations for Initial Phase Manufacturing.

“Over the past 14 years, Susan has been the backbone of Initial Phase Manufacturing and Material Finance,” said Dutton. “She has a deep knowledge of the large-cabin product lines and Initial Phase business areas, which, along with her financial expertise and excellent leadership, will serve Gulfstream well.” Herring joined Gulfstream in 2000 as a budget analyst and has held a number of positions, including finance manager of Gulfstream G450 and G550 product lines and senior finance manager of Initial Phase Operations and Advanced Aircraft Programs. Herring earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Gulfstream says...

The G650 did it again, setting a record between White Plains, N.Y., and Mumbai, India.