Gulfstream is expanding its operation at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, by building a new MRO facility that will be nearly 115,000ft² (10,684m²) in size, and replace a smaller facility at the airport. The construction will include a 75,000ft² (6,968m²) hangar, offices and back shops. The company anticipates around 50 jobs will be created – an increase of nearly 50% at the site.
Gulfstream’s facility will be adjacent to a new storage hangar, customer offices and fuel farm operated by sister company Jet Aviation. The entire facility will be more than 168,000ft² (15,608m²). Gulfstream and Jet Aviation will invest more than US$50m in the project. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2018, and the facility is expected to open by the first quarter of 2020.
“Our West Palm Beach site plays a major role in our service organization, which has experienced sizable growth over the last several years,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “Like other expansions we’ve announced this year in Savannah, Georgia; Appleton, Wisconsin; and Farnborough, England; and last year in Van Nuys, California, this expansion in West Palm Beach will keep our service network well-positioned to accommodate the growing demand for aircraft maintenance and refurbishment. The addition of this world-class facility will enhance the West Palm Beach customer and employee experience and help us maintain the service excellence we are known for. Additionally, we look forward to bringing more jobs to the community.”
Gulfstream West Palm Beach has been a company site since 2001. It is home to a service center with more than 46,000ft² (4,274m²) of hangar space. In 2017, the facility had more than 975 aircraft visits. Services include major inspections, structural modifications and repairs and major avionics installations and system upgrades. The facility is a certified US FAA and EASA repair station and also has maintenance approvals from Argentina, Aruba, Bermuda, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, Peru, San Marino and Venezuela. The site also supports a Gulfstream Field and Airborne Support Team rapid-response unit.
“This expansion was made possible by the contributions of many, including the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County commissioners, the Palm Beach County Department of Airports, the West Palm Beach City Commission and the state of Florida’s economic development team at Enterprise Florida,” said Jay Neely, vice president, law and public affairs, Gulfstream. “We appreciate their support and efforts.”
