|
Gulfstream has established a joint venture (JV)
with Beijing Capital Airlines (Deer Jet) and Grand China Aviation
Technik (GCAT) to operate a business jet service center at Beijing
Capital International Airport.
Deer Jet is a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines
Group and one of China’s largest business jet charter providers.
Its fleet includes 26 Gulfstream aircraft. GCAT, another Hainan
subsidiary, offers aircraft repair, maintenance and overhaul
services. The new venture will operate under the name Gulfstream
Beijing.
“This is an historic occasion for everyone
involved, especially our customers,” said Mark Burns, president,
Gulfstream Product Support. “We will be the first business jet
original equipment manufacturer to offer maintenance, repair and
overhaul services for its customers in China, the fastest-growing
market for business jets worldwide. The convenience factor alone
of Gulfstream Beijing will help our Chinese customers lower their
maintenance costs and increase aircraft availability.”
Gulfstream Beijing, consisting of an 82,000-square-foot hangar and
22,000 square feet of offices and back shops, will be overseen by veteran Gulfstream product support executive Kay Ardalan, the
site’s general manager. The facility will be staffed by Gulfstream employees, who will bring their extensive product knowledge and
skills to the venture, as well as Deer Jet employees who have become increasingly well-versed in Gulfstream products.
The facility will serve Deer Jet’s Gulfstream fleet, other
Gulfstream aircraft and select non-Gulfstream models. The new
venture is in the process of applying for a Civil Aviation
Administration of China (CAAC) Part 145 repair certificate, a
requirement for beginning service operations.
“When we
induct the first aircraft for maintenance, customers will be
delighted to find the same extraordinary level of service they have become accustomed to receiving from Gulfstream factory
service centers outside of China,” Burns said. “In the long run,
we see this expansion of our service capability as essential to
maintaining our No. 1 position in the Chinese market in terms of
market share and reputation.”
Gulfstream opened a sales
office in Beijing on 7 December 2011, and nearly 50% of Gulfstream
orders in the third quarter of 2011 were from the Asia Pacific
region.
There are more than 40 Gulfstream jets in mainland China
today, a number that continues to grow. More than 30 are in Hong
Kong.
Gulfstream’s business relationship with Deer
Jet began in 2004, when the charter operation leased a preowned
GIV.
In support of Deer Jet’s fleet of Gulfstream aircraft,
Gulfstream has had a maintenance team based in Beijing since May
2010. The group was originally made up of three technician
consultants and has since added two more. In January 2010,
Gulfstream positioned its first Product Support employee in
mainland China, Beijing-based field service representative Jenson
Saw.
Along with Gulfstream Beijing, other facilities
available to Gulfstream operators in Asia are authorized warranty
repair centers Metrojet in Hong Kong and Gulfstream sister company
Jet Aviation in Singapore, along with warranty line-service center Jamco Corp. in Sendai, Japan. Metrojet and Jet Aviation have parts
and materials for Gulfstream aircraft on site.
See other recent news regarding:
Airlines,
Airports,
Awards,
Flights,
Codeshare,
FFP,
Inflight,
Lounges,
First Class,
Business Class,
MICE,
GDS,
Rewards,
Miles,
Hotels,
Apartments,
Promotions,
Spas,
Yoga,
Retreat,
New Hotels,
Traffic,
Visitor Arrivals,
Cruises,
Free Deals,
Interviews,
Videos,
Tickets,
Gulfstream,
Beijing
|
