Gulfstream Expands Maintenance While Building on New GD Name

Developing a maintenance plan for aircraft designed in-house is difficult enough. With the addition of the G100 (Astra SPX) and G200 (Galaxy) to the Gulfstream line, the company's maintenance and support managers have an even greater challenge.

So what's the key to the job? It's training, according to Larry Flynn, senior vice president of Gulfstream Aircraft Services, and president of General Dynamics Aviation Services.

"We are starting with good airplanes that are reliable and easy to work on," said Flynn, speaking of the G100 and G200.

"The number one thing we're focused on is training a broad group of people. Our approach is to get our 10 service centers up to speed as soon as possible. We'll have trained 150 people between now and year-end, with the help of FlightSafety."

Flynn said that six of the 10 centers will be certified to work on the new aircraft this year, with the rest in 2002. In addition, Gulfstream is "ordering a significant amount of parts" from Israel's IAI, from which Gulfstream parent General Dynamics purchased the Astra SPX and Galaxy.

"We're also signing agreements with their vendors to buy direct from the vendors, and getting the type certificate for the G100 and G200, which will accelerate the parts process," said Flynn.

Besides his responsibility as svp for Gulfstream Aircraft Services, Flynn has added the General Dynamics Aviation Services (GDAS) hat since last NBAA.

The genesis of GDAS came about three years ago with Gulfstream's acquisition of K-C Aviation, "after which time we had the opportunity to work on other people's airplanes."

"We feel we are reintroducing the General Dynamics name back into the business," said Flynn. "GDAS opens up the playing field for different opportunities than the Gulfstream playing field."

By Barry Rosenberg