Gulfstream has ramped up its support for Chinese business jet charter operator Deer Jet with an agreement to a support the Beijing-based firm's Gulfstream fleet with a maintenance technician, avionics technician and quality-control specialist.

Deer Jet and other regional customers will have access to two Gulfstream interior technicians based in Hong Kong and a Gulfstream field service representative based in Beijing.

Deer Jet owns three Gulfstream G550s, two GVs, four GIVs and four G200s. It owns and manages 24 aircraft, and wants to boost its fleet to 35 business aircraft by the end of the year including its first Airbus Corporate Jetliner.

The Hainan Airlines subsidiary is China's biggest business jet charter operator.

Gulfstream Product Support president Mark Burns says: "The business jet market in China is expanding rapidly, and we are committed to staying ahead of that growth with an expanding product support infrastructure."

Besides increasing its support for Deer Jet in China, Gulfstream has also created three positions in the region to support the growing market.

It has named Metrojet's former chief operating officer Mark Thibault to be its regional programme director. Based in Hong Kong, Thibault will oversee product support for Gulfstream aircraft operators in Asia.

It has also appointed an international distribution manager for parts and materials to be based in Hong Kong, as well as a field service representative in Beijing to assist customers in China.

Source: Flight International