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Gulfstream Lays
Groundwork To Support Rapidly Expanding China Fleet By Bill Goldston |
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March 28, 2012 - Speaking to media at Shanghai's first
Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition
(ABACE), Gulfstream President Larry Flynn addressed the
strength of sales in the Asia Pacific and committed to
increasing Gulfstream resources in the region.
"Asia, and particularly China, remains our leading
export market," he said. "Twenty-seven percent of our
current backlog is in Asia Pacific. The fleet of
Gulfstream aircraft in use in Hong Kong and China has
grown from zero in 2000 to more than 80 today, with more
on the way." He noted a firm order worth $810 million
from Minsheng Leasing for 20 aircraft. Flynn also introduced a trio of new customers: Nanshan Jet, which is taking delivery of its second G450 long-range jet, with an additional G450 and an ultra-long-range G550 on order; AllPoints Jet, which signed an order at the show for a G450 and G550; and Asia Jet, which is expanding its Shanghai charter fleet with a mid-range G200. |
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"These
companies exemplify the dynamism in the Chinese market," Flynn
said. "All will use the aircraft to conduct charter operations,
thereby introducing more Chinese companies to the advantages of
business aviation and the comfort and capability of Gulfstream
jets.
Flynn
pointed to the planned opening of Gulfstream Beijing, a joint
service center operated by Gulfstream, Deer Jet and Grand China
Aviation Technik. The joint venture will be known as Gulfstream
Beijing and will open later this year. Already, Gulfstream has a
parts warehouse operating nearby. Gulfstream will be the first
business jet manufacturer to offer factory service in China.
Flynn also
noted Gulfstream's close collaboration with training provider
FlightSafety International, which inaugurated the first
full-flight simulator in Asia strictly devoted to business
aviation. The G450/G550 simulator is based in Hong Kong, placing
training much closer to customers from northern China and other
parts of Asia.
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