SAVANNAH, Ga., May 10, 2011 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced today that more than 300 of its employees have earned the FlightSafety International Master Technician designation, the most of any original equipment manufacturer worldwide.
Gulfstream reached the milestone of 301 Master Technicians after four technicians at Gulfstream’s West Palm Beach, Fla., facility completed the 30-hour GIV Operational Maintenance Procedures course at FlightSafety’s West Palm Beach Learning Center. Earning certificates were Carlos Gutierrez, Chris Lianzo, Andrew Lopez and Todd Guinn.
“Our Master Technician-certified employees, representing every one of our service center locations, have earned this mark of excellence in their field, and we are very proud of them all,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “Our customers recognize the Master Technician designation as an important and valued accomplishment. It adds to their confidence in Gulfstream because they know we are committed to enhancing our workforce with continuous training.”
The Master Technician Training Program, which FlightSafety initiated in 1994, is a comprehensive, systematic series of advanced skills courses. The program is considered the best of its kind in the industry.
According to FlightSafety statistics, 66 percent of the more than 1,240 technicians from around the world who have earned Master Technician status have earned it for Gulfstream aircraft.
Earning the designation requires successful completion of five advanced maintenance courses for a specific aircraft. The complete program is available for all Gulfstream models. Class work begins with a four-week Maintenance Initial course and continues with a one-week Maintenance Update course on that aircraft. The remaining courses are Engine Run and Taxi, Advanced Troubleshooting and Operational Maintenance Procedures.
The Operational Maintenance Procedures class includes situations that challenge a technician to quickly return the aircraft to service. It is usually combined with the Advanced Troubleshooting class. A technician must score 90 percent or above on each written and hands-on exam to advance in the program. To be eligible for Master Technician status, an employee must successfully complete one class every two years.
Technician training on Gulfstream aircraft is available at FlightSafety facilities in Savannah; Dallas; Long Beach, Calif.; and Wilmington, Del.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,900 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200®; the new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 10,000 people at 10 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 90,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com
