Page 16 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2018 Online Magazine
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2,700 worldwide fleet is based in  tion in an increasingly
                                            Asia Pacific. We believe interest in   crowded market?
                                            Gulfstream aircraft in Asia Pacific
                                            and the Middle East will continue   Gulfstream is primarily focused on
                                            to grow over the next several years.   its next two aircraft to enter ser-
                                                                               vice, the G500 and G600, but we
                                            As per trends and various          continuously evaluate the products
                                            recent reports, Asia is            and services we offer to custom-
                                            the driver of future global        ers. This kind of exploration could
                                            aviation growth. Will this         not be accomplished without a
                                            reflect on the business            robust research and development
                                            aviation market?                   program, which involves the work
                                                                               of approximately 1,500 engineers.
                                            We  have  a  positive  view  about  Gulfstream also prepares for the
                                            the continued growth of our fleet  future by listening carefully to its
                                            in Asia Pacific over the next sev-  customers. How do they use their
        Our order activity is strongest in the  eral years. According to the latest  aircraft? How has their passenger
        North America, Europe and the Far  Honeywell Global Business Aviation  experience been? What has their
        East. The Middle East continues to  Outlook, released in October 2017,  ownership experience been? That
        be a consistent market. We have  nearly 500 new business jets will be  kind of customer feedback sets
        a diverse backlog both in terms of  delivered to the Asia-Pacific region  the course for Gulfstream going
        product mix and geography. And,  from 2017 to 2027. Honeywell pre-     forward.
        because of our commitment to  dicts approximately 57 percent of
        research and development, we have  the deliveries will be large-cabin  Has the new U.S. tax law
        a steady cadence of new prod-       aircraft. As the large-cabin mar- proved beneficial for the
        uct  introductions  and  deliveries.  ket-share leader in the region, one  business aviation indus-
        New products generate additional  with growing customer resources  try? How has it impacted
        demand, so we’re optimistic and  and a commitment to continu- the company’s business
        confident about our market posi-    ous  improvement,  Gulfstream  is   prospects?
        tion.                               well-positioned to sell and deliver
                                            many of those aircraft.            We’ve seen some positive signs.
        How many Gulfstream air-               We already have significant cus-  We believe Donald Trump’s use of
        craft operate in the Middle         tomer resources in Asia, including   business aviation before becom-
        East and Asia and do you            a company-owned service center     ing president is a good indication
        see the number increas-             in  Beijing;  company-authorized   that he understands the value of
        ing substantially over the          service  centers  in  Hong  Kong   what we do, not just from a safety
        next decade?                        and Singapore (both Jet Aviation   and  productivity  standpoint,  but
                                            facilities);  a  company-authorized   also from an economic standpoint.
        We have approximately 100 aircraft   warranty  facility  in  Hong  Kong   Our industry employs more than 1.1
        in the Middle East and more than    (Metrojet); and our Asia Customer   million people and has an annual
        330 in the Asia-Pacific region. We   Support Contact Center in Hong    economic  impact  of  more  than
        continue to see demand for our      Kong. Earlier this year, sister com-  US$200 billion.
        large-cabin aircraft in the Middle   pany Jet Aviation purchased Hawker   As always, we will continue to
        East.  In  particular,  the  G650/  Pacific. As part of this acquisition,   work  with  advocacy  organiza-
        G650ER are extremely popular in     Jet Aviation will add 19 locations   tions, such as the General Aviation
        the region, with more than 30 of    across Asia-Pacific and the Middle   Manufacturers     Association,
        these aircraft models based there.   East to its global network, including   the  National  Business  Aviation
        The  Asia-Pacific  region  is  home   seven FBOs, 14 maintenance facil-  Association and the International
        to our largest international fleet of   ities and more than 400,000 sq ft   Business Aviation Council, to create
        aircraft and is our fastest-growing   of hangar space, as well as Hawker   awareness around the needs of the
        international market. From 2013 to   Pacific’s 800 employees.          business aviation community and
        2017, the Asia-Pacific fleet grew                                      represent the industry on policies
        more than 40 percent. Almost 12     What is the key to staying         that could impact business aviation.
        percent  of  Gulfstream’s  nearly   ahead of the competi-


        16 | May/June 2018                                                                    www.GBP.com.sg/AAA
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