Gulfstream consolidation will lead to loss of Long Beach facility

Gulfstream announced this week that it is streamlining and modernizing its customer service and support experiences by leveraging new and expanded facilities throughout its network.

This facility optimization is the next step in a series of long-range facility modernization investments Gulfstream launched in 2019 with the construction of the Van Nuys, California, service center and the expansion of its Savannah and Appleton, Wisconsin, facilities. The company also built new, more modern facilities in Palm Beach, Florida, and Farnborough, England, and announced plans to build a new service center in the Fort Worth area, as well.

As part of the effort, the company will close its Long Beach location, moving the service work to Gulfstream Van Nuys and the completions work to Savannah and Appleton. Long-term workforce expansions are planned for all three locations.

“We have made significant investments to modernize and strategically expand our operational capabilities in both our manufacturing and service networks,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “By leveraging these newer, more modern locations and synergies across the network, we can further enhance the overall experience for our customers, whether they’re taking delivery of a new aircraft or scheduling service.”

Long Beach will experience a phased closure over the next six months as work shifts to the other locations. To maintain continuity of service and retain the extensive technical talent of its Long Beach workforce, Gulfstream is offering those employees the opportunity to apply for positions elsewhere in the company with a focus on Van Nuys, Savannah and Appleton.

Located 45 miles from Long Beach, the Gulfstream Van Nuys facility is approximately 66,000 square feet/6,132 square meters, which includes approximately 43,000 sq ft/3,995 sq m of hangar space, enough to accommodate four Gulfstream G650ER or G650 aircraft. Adjacent to the facility is a fixed-based operation run by sister company Jet Aviation that has a 10,000-sq-ft/929-sq-m terminal and 43,000-sq-ft/3,995-sq-m hangar, which includes office space.

In addition to offering maintenance, the facility also serves as the local operating base for Gulfstream FAST Field and Airborne Support Teams, a rapid-response unit that specializes in troubleshooting grounded aircraft. There are more than 130 Gulfstream aircraft based at Van Nuys Airport, the most active business aviation airport in California.

Gulfstream Van Nuys has easy access to Gulfstream’s West Coast Customer Support Distribution Center, in place at Van Nuys Airport since 2014, which has a parts and materials inventory of nearly $30 million.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 29th October 2020 | Issue #579