SAVANNAH, GA – Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has added a European parts distribution center to its product support network. The CORJET Europe facility in Madrid, Spain, will serve as a strategic parts distribution facility housing high-usage items commonly required by international Gulfstream customers.
The center, located at the Madrid Barajas Airport, currently holds nearly $4 million in Gulfstream parts, which will continue to grow through 2009. Parts from Madrid will support maintenance operations at five satellite service centers and one parts facility located around the world. Those centers include the Gulfstream London-Luton Service Center in London; the MetroJet maintenance facility in Hong Kong; the Jet Aviation maintenance facilities in Dubai, Moscow, and Singapore; and the Morro Vermehlo Taxi Aero parts center in Sao Paulo.
Dirk Baber, a 22-year Gulfstream veteran, has moved to the Madrid facility to serve as the onsite Gulfstream materials and warehouse manager. Baber previously worked as the manufacturing engineering group head, Materials and Procurement, Gulfstream. His new appointment represents the first time Gulfstream has placed a materials manager on-site at an authorized parts distribution facility. Gulfstream also established a team in Savannah dedicated solely to evaluating and replenishing the Madrid-based stock.
"Over the past several years, our overseas sales activity has increased dramatically, so this is an ideal partnership for us," says Mark Burns, president, Product Support, Gulfstream. "In addition to increasing our spare-parts inventory in Europe, we're using Iberia's Madrid-based airline to distribute the spares. That means Gulfstream aircraft operators will receive the parts they need when they need them, regardless of where the aircraft is operated."
CORJET Europe joined the Gulfstream Product Support network as an Authorized Warranty Repair Facility in 2008. The center is now capable of servicing Gulfstream G550, G500, G400, G300, G200, GV, GIV-SP, and GIV aircraft.
In addition to basic line maintenance, Gulfstream Authorized Warranty Repair Facilities provide detailed maintenance services, including scheduled maintenance checks and inspections. Maintenance on Gulfstream aircraft in fulfillment of Gulfstream's manufacturer's warranties is also performed.