Gulfstream to support Deer Jet fleet

Deer Jet, China’s largest business jet charter operator, has signed a product support agreement with Gulfstream.

The company, which is owned by Hainan Airlines, owns three Gulfstream G550s, two Gulfstream GVs, four Gulfstream GIVs and four Gulfstream G200s.

Gulfstream will provide Deer Jet with a maintenance support team in Beijing. The manufacturer also has two interior technicians in Hong Kong and a Gulfstream field service representative in Beijing.

“The business-jet market in China is expanding rapidly, and we are committed to staying ahead of that growth with an expanding product support infrastructure,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “This agreement ensures that Deer Jet can continue to pursue growth opportunities in Asia.”

Gulfstream has created three new positions in China to support the growth of business aviation.

Mark Thibault, the former chief operating officer of Metrojet Limited in Hong Kong, is regional program director. He is responsible for overseeing all product support in Asia. James Liang will join Thibault in Hong Kong as the international distribution manager for parts and materials. He will manage inventory and oversee distribution. Gulfstream has placed more than $48 million in parts and materials at in Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore.

Jenson Saw, the new China field service representative, is based in Beijing.

Deer Jet is owned by Hainan Airlines, itself subsidiary of HNA Group. Deer Jet’s fleet consists of 23 aircraft: one Boeing Business Jet (delivered in March 2010), one A319, three Gulfstream 550s, two Gulfstream Vs, four Gulfstream IVs, three Gulfstream 200s, one Hawker 900XPs, one Hawker 850XPs and four Hawker 800XPs. It also manages one Hawker 850XP, one Gulfstream 200, and one Hawker 4000.

DeerJet says it will own 35 aircraft by the end of 2010. Gulfstream says that about 30 aircraft are registered in China.