Kate Sarsfield/LONDON
Gulfstream has teamed with Chrysler Pentastar Aviation to provide an aircraft management service designed to "simplify aircraft ownership" and stimulate business jet sales.
Called Gulfstream Management Services, the programme is aimed at new and existing Gulfstream owners and offers a turnkey aircraft service. "We will offer the customer everything from working the aircraft through the completion cycle, to providing operations support and aircraft management, There is nothing that we won't provide," says Chrysler.
Savannah, Georgia-based Gulfstream will market the product, and Chrysler will manage the service from its, Waterford, Michigan base. Chrysler says customers will pay a monthly management fee, and operating costs, including fuel and maintenance, will be passed on to the client at cost price.
Chrysler claims that Gulfstream Management Services will appeal to customers who do not want the burden associated with aircraft ownership and believes that it offers an alternative to a corporate flight department. "Many companies are now outsourcing their services, like security and cleaning, and we provide an ideal aviation service," it says.
Chrysler says, however, that the service is not designed to replace corporate flight departments: "It is not intended to put them out of business but to sell aircraft," it asserts. Gulfstream plans to increase GIV-SP and GV production from 46 aircraft a year in 1997 to 60 a year in 1999.
Source: Flight International
