Business is Good for Gulfstream's First Service Center
Outside USA
Gulfstream's customer base has risen by 30% since it opened its
first service center outside the United States at the UK's London-Luton
Airport.
The facility was previously owned by Signature Flight Engineering
and opened under Gulfstream Aerospace ownership on April 2. The
Gulfstream name first appeared over the door in June, and since
then business has been good according general manager Marc Schneider,
who has been running the center since day one. "On Gulfstreams
we can do anything that the factory can do, including 5,000-landings
checks," he told Show News.
Schneider explained, "Most customers over here don't want
to fly the Atlantic to get work done, and we're here to offer
an alternative, saving airframe time, fuel and aircrew expenses.
However, surprisingly, some still want to go to Savannah or Long
Beach. Probably 70% of our business right now is 'drop ins' from
transatlantic customers. Around 1,300-1,500 Gulfstreams visit
Signature FBOs annually and we are seeing about 40% of those aircraft."
The facility is also operating the same strategy as GDAS (General
Dynamics Aviation Services) in the USA, offering maintenance on
Hawker, Citation and Falcon aircraft as well Gulfstreams from
the GII through G550.
Gulfstream is investing heavily in the Luton facility, both in
technology (new computerized inventory) and in personnel, where
particular emphasis is being placed on cross-training on Hawkers
and Falcons. It is currently in the process of doubling its parts
inventory by absorbing Jet Aviation's Geneva inventory, and is
also moving-in high utilization parts from the USA to enable it
to offer a 24-hour parts and sales service. Space is not a problem
at the moment but "we have an option on another hangar when
business warrants," Schneider disclosed.
"We are currently working on the FAA/AMT award scheme and
on completion, we'll be the first foreign FAA repair station to
gain Diamond Award status," he noted.
