Gulfstream has completed a $40 million expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Appleton International airport in Wisconsin.
The new 17,650sq m (190,000sq ft) plant, which opened in early August, is situated northeast of the airport. It features a 9,462sq m hangar than can house up to 12 flagship G650/650ERs ultra-long-range business jets, as well as back shops, general support space, and a new sales and design centre. The project, which was announced in February 2018, brings the airframer’s total footprint at the site to 46,450sq m.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream began operating in Appleton in 1998, following its $250 million acquisition of business aviation services provider KC Aviation. While it has extended the facility on a number of occasions since then, Gulfstream customer support president Derek Zimmerman says the latest undertaking is “the most significant expansion” to date.
“It will help us enhance the reliability of our growing fleet, support more customers and elevate their experience, continue to maintain a high level of safety, and provide a world-class workplace for our employees,” he says. In 2018, Gulfstream recorded around 500 aircraft visits to the site, where it provides a number of services including maintenance, structural modifications, major avionics installations and large-cabin completions.
Cirium fleets data records a global inventory of more than 2,100 Gulfstream aircraft, of which around 1,400 are based in the USA. The Appleton facility has approvals to work on Gulfstream types registered in a host of countries and regions, including Bermuda, Canada, China, Europe, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Flight International
