Gulfstream Aerospace celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Airborne Product Support service and is crediting the programme's success with much of its increase in sales.
The programme was launched in May 2002 and has since completed 1,350 missions, including 96 outside the USA.
“We are the first and only manufacturer to dedicate an aircraft solely to assisting customers whose aircraft are unexpectedly grounded as a result of needed parts or technical assistance,” says product support president Larry Flynn. The mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100 is available around the clock to fly out parts and mechanics.
The service is one element in a major division of Gulfstream. The company has 8,000 total employees and more than 3,000 work at its service centres.
Communications director Robert Baugniet says: "Superior product support sells new airplanes." He adds that its maintenance hangars accept Beechcrafts, Hawkers and other jets in hopes of wooing their owners over to Gulfstream.
Sales and service demand has led their Savannah, Georgia facility to a major expansion that is now underway, ultimately doubling its size to 55,740m2 (600,000ft2).
Source: Flight Daily News
