Five Large-Cabin Aircraft To Enter Service With Deer Jet In 2012

In ceremonies at the Asian Business Aviation air show in Hong Kong this week, Gulfstream signed a sales agreement with Hainan Airlines Group for one large-cabin, long-range G450 business jet and four large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550 business jets. The aircraft will be operated by the airline's business-jet subsidiary, Deer Jet. The aircraft will enter service in 2012.

Deer Jet, based in Beijing, owns or manages more than 20 Gulfstream aircraft, making it the largest Gulfstream operator in China and one of the largest in the world. In 2006, Deer Jet was the first in China to place a Gulfstream aircraft into service, and has helped Gulfstream establish a presence as the leading business-jet brand in China.

"We are delighted by this new phase of our relationship," said Gulfstream President Joe Lombardo, "and look forward to it growing and deepening in the future."

Gulfstream has also named Charles Celli, who has held key positions in the General Dynamics Aerospace group in the United States and abroad, as vice president of Gulfstream's Savannah service center operations. 

Charles Celli

In his new position, Celli is responsible for the day-to-day operations at the 680,000-square-foot facility, the largest in the world built specifically for maintaining business jets.  Barry Russell, vice president, Customer Support, Gulfstream, who oversaw the facility since January, is now focused on the global aspects of customer and technical support.

Celli and Russell report to Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support.

Most recently, Celli worked for Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland, as senior vice president, Completions Services, Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) and Asia, and general manager of Jet Aviation Basel.  In Basel, Celli was responsible for facility management, supply chain management and quality, and represented the company externally to authorities and the local community.

Before taking over the Jet Aviation position in April 2009, Celli was vice president and general manager of Gulfstream's facility in Dallas for six years.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com