Phoenix Air Group, Navy Executive Detachment Recognized For "Superior Performance"

Gulfstream recently announced Phoenix Air Group Inc. of Cartersville, GA,  and the U.S. Navy's Executive Transport Detachment Pacific, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, as the winners of the Gulfstream Outstanding Flight Award. Representatives from the two organizations received the Alber-Rowley Trophy during an awards dinner at the NBAA meeting and convention last week in Atlanta.

Gulfstream's annual Outstanding Flight Award Program spotlights flights involving superior airmanship and operational achievements performed in customer Gulfstream aircraft.  The trophy highlights significant real-world business and special-mission aviation operations by Gulfstream operators each year. The award is named for Carl Alber and Fred Rowley who, in 1958, made the first flight of a Gulfstream aircraft.

"We're proud of all the groups that were nominated," said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. "In their own way, each one of them demonstrated the tremendous capabilities of Gulfstream aircraft and the crews that fly them. However, the rigorous missions conducted by Phoenix Air Group and the Executive Detachment in the Pacific warranted special recognition. Those crews had to surmount a number of operational challenges in order to successfully complete their work. They clearly showed that Gulfstream aircraft are vital business and military tools."

Photo Courtesy Gulfstream

Phoenix Air Group, an international aircraft services company, won the commercial award for a year-long series of flights by a single Gulfstream III in support of the U.S. Africa Command. The aircraft flew nearly 400,000 miles over 900 hours, visiting 45 countries in Africa and the Middle East in demanding and sometimes harsh operational environments.

The U.S. Navy Executive Transport Detachment Pacific provides airlift/transportation services in support of the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander. Their winning mission involved 54 hours of flying over 10 days to four different countries. The crew - and the aircraft - endured challenging weather in remote locations. Based at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Detachment Pacific flies mostly long-range, oceanic, international flights.

Photo Courtesy Gulfstream

Awardees and finalists received take-home trophies and certificates during a dinner held in Atlanta. The names of the two annual winners are engraved on the permanent Gulfstream-commissioned Alber-Rowley trophy, an original artist-designed bronze sculpture which is on permanent display at Gulfstream headquarters.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com