News Release
GULFSTREAM DIVIDES APPLETON FACILITY INTO THREE UNITS: GULFSTREAM FINAL PHASE MANUFACTURING, GULFSTREAM PRODUCT SUPPORT AND GENERAL DYNAMICS AVIATION SERVICES
Reorganization Will Improve Customer Service
SAVANNAH, Ga., March 29, 2005 - Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today that to provide enhanced customer service, its Appleton, Wis., facility will be divided into three separate units.
The first unit, which will retain the Gulfstream name, will focus on the final phase of manufacturing (completion) of Gulfstream business jets. The second unit, which will provide a one-stop capability for maintenance and refurbishment of Raytheon, Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream business jets, will operate under the General Dynamics Aviation Services name. The third unit, which will provide product support to in-production Gulfstream business jets, will operate under the Gulfstream Service Center banner.
"Since we acquired the Appleton facility in 1998, it has earned a reputation as both a first-class completions and a first-class aircraft service operation," said Larry Flynn, president, product support, Gulfstream, and president, General Dynamics Aviation Services. "To ensure we retain that hard-earned reputation and provide the best possible service to our customers, we determined that dividing the operation into three distinct units would enable the line management of the respective units to focus on what they do best.
"There are some very real differences between completing one of our own green aircraft, undertaking a major refurbishment or service program on another OEM's product, and servicing a customer's Gulfstream business-jet aircraft."
General Dynamics Aviation Services Appleton becomes the sixth service facility to operate under that name in North America. The five other General Dynamics Aviation Services facilities are located in Dallas; Las Vegas; Minneapolis; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Westfield, Mass. General Dynamics Aviation Services centers provide a comprehensive range of support services, including avionics installations; engineering support; interior refurbishment, engine and airframe maintenance; select APU overhaul; select landing gear overhaul and complete paint services. General Dynamics Aviation Services centers predominantly serve owners and operators of Raytheon, Bombardier, Dassault and out-of-production Gulfstream business-jet aircraft. Out-of-production Gulfstream aircraft include the GI, GII and GIII.
Gulfstream Service Centers are located in Brunswick and Savannah, Ga.; Dallas; Long Beach; Appleton; and London-Luton, England. They provide a comprehensive range of services to owners and operators of Gulfstream aircraft still in production. Gulfstream aircraft currently in production include the Gulfstream GIV, G350, G450, GV, G500 and G550 as well as the G100, G200 and G150, the latter of which enters service next year.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically advanced business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,400 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100™; the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350™; the large-cabin, long-range G450™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550™. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 6,750 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics Aviation Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, was formed in February 2001 to meet the maintenance needs of Challengers, Falcons, Gulfstreams, Hawkers and other business jet aircraft. The business jet service company serves a broad range of business aircraft owners through regional maintenance centers in Appleton, Wis., Minneapolis; Westfield, Mass.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Dallas; and Las Vegas. For more information, we invite you to visit our Web site at www.gdaviationservices.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 70,200 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.
