Gulfstream Completes 2,000th Airborne Product Support Flight

March 4, 2009
Program reduces return-to-service times for Gulfstream operators.

SAVANNAH, GA – Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, recently completed its 2,000th Airborne Product Support flight, achieving the milestone seven years after introducing the on-demand maintenance service in May 2002.

Gulfstream Product Support uses a dedicated Gulfstream G100 aircraft to fly technicians and flight-essential parts to airports within North America, Central America, and the Caribbean in support of Gulfstream aircraft under warranty. In instances where an operator’s aircraft is located outside the G100's range of service, Gulfstream flies the necessary parts and technicians to an airline hub, where they can reach the customer's aircraft via commercial flights.

Gulfstream launched Airborne Product Support in May 2002 after a 12-month study of transient operator destinations, home-base locations, and materials requirements. Gulfstream was the first, and remains the only, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to have a dedicated product-support jet aircraft.

The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Web address, www.gulfstream.com, appears below the aircraft's tail number, N247PS.

"Even though Gulfstream aircraft have industry-leading dispatch reliability rates, it's still vitally important for Gulfstream to provide the best possible service to our operators. Airborne Product Support is one way we do that," says Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. "The service minimizes the amount of time customers spend on the ground waiting for parts, repairs or technicians."

Airborne Product Support employs dedicated pilots and a full-time manager to support the around-the-clock operation. Painted in distinct livery, the product-support aircraft can carry parts, test equipment, and technicians.