SAVANNAH, Georgia, February 15, 2016
—Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced at the 2016 Singapore Airshowthat its Asia-Pacific fleet continues to grow, reflecting the company’s position as the top-rated brand in the region.JETNET’s latest iQ Report, published quarterly, lists Gulfstream first in its Brand Reputations of Aircraft Manufacturers survey for Asia Pacific.
“Our brand reputation in Asia Pacific is second to none and that is reflected in our fleet, which has doubled in size from 142 aircraft in 2010 to 289 at the end of 2015,” said Roger Sperry, regional senior vice president, International Sales, Asia Pacific, Gulfstream. “That’s an average of more than 29 deliveries a year. We continue to welcome new customers who want to leverage the performance, comfort and reliability of our aircraft to expand their business interests around the world.”
The company’s fleet in Southeast Asia has doubled over the past five years to more than 60 aircraft. Nearly 25 of those aircraft are based in Singapore. As sales in the region increase, Gulfstreamcontinues to invest in regional support and services for operators while also realigning the resources it’s had in place for several years.
Operators based in and traveling through Southeast Asia have a strong resource for their maintenance needs, Jet Aviation Singapore's Gulfstream-authorized service center at Seletar Airport. The maintenance facility's two hangars and workshops comprise nearly 100,000 square feet/9,290 square meters. Jet Aviation Singapore has Gulfstream technicians on-site to assist with airframe, avionics and interior work, including refurbishment, particularly for the Gulfstream G450, G550, G650 and G650ER, four of the most popular aircraft in the region.
“There is considerable Gulfstream expertise and knowledge among the staff at Jet Aviation Singapore and the U.S.-based Gulfstream technicians we rotate through there,” said Mitch Choquette, vice president, Customer Support, Gulfstream. “This enhanced partnership with Jet Aviation benefits customers throughout the region, giving them a world-class service resource in Southeast Asia.”
Gulfstream service and support resources in Southeast Asia also include regional sales manager Chandroo Methani, field service representative (FSR) Brian Scott and a parts warehouse. All are in Singapore.
Approximately $65 million in parts are positioned in Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing. Thirty-one-year company veteran Jim Gallagher, who recently joined the Asia-Pacific support team as director, Customer Support, said parts distribution in Asia Pacific has been a focus of the organization.
“We have new methods and tools implemented to measure the in-region parts inventory efficiency and adjust to the regional demand,” Gallagher said. “The results have been an increase in part numbers in Singapore and Hong Kong, faster shipments to operators and quicker returns to service of their aircraft.”
Hong Kong is home to a valuable resource for Asia-Pacific operators, the Asia Customer Support Contact Center near Hong Kong International Airport. Facility personnel now include computer maintenance program analysts, a technical systems specialist, an over-the-counter parts sales and warranty specialist, a regional sales manager for Product Support and a materials manager, along with field service representative Mark Moss and field service operations manager James Albritton, who is in his 24th year as a member of Gulfstream’s field service organization.
Gulfstream’s Asia-Pacific presence also includes company-authorized service center Jet Aviation in Hong Kong and company-authorized warranty facilities Metrojet in Hong Kong; ExecuJet in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; JAMCO in Sendai, Japan; and Air Works in Mumbai, India.
Also in Hong Kong, FlightSafety International operates a Gulfstream Learning Center for technicians and pilots that features a level-D qualified full-flight simulator for the G550 and G450. Gulfstream also has Field and Airborne Support Team (FAST) technicians based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, who are particularly adept at rapid-response assistance to operators in aircraft-on-ground situations.
Gulfstream Product Support personnel in Asia Pacific also include FSRs Bill Guo (Beijing) and Jenson Saw (Shanghai) in China; Kannan Kumar in Chennai, India; and Hiro Yamaguchi in Tokyo.
Yamaguchi, a former technician for Gulfstream FAST in Van Nuys and Hayward, California, is the latest FSR team member in Asia. FSR responsibilities include providing technical guidance on methods and procedures related to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, facilitating full resolution of any technical issue that arises and serving as an advisor to operators.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,500 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the Gulfstream G150TM, the Gulfstream G280TM, the Gulfstream G450TM, the Gulfstream G550TM, the Gulfstream G500TM, the Gulfstream G600TM, the Gulfstream G650TM and the Gulfstream G650ERTM. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft SalesTM. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos at www.gulfstreamnews.com.