Gulfstream donates G100 to Savannah Tech

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently donated a Gulfstream G100 aircraft and several other items to Savannah Technical College.

The aircraft, which was retired from the company fleet in May 2013, will be used as a training tool in the college’s aviation programs.

“We are proud to contribute to the growth of Savannah Tech and the development of tomorrow’s aviation technicians,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “Our 15-year-old partnership has resulted in more than 400 Savannah Tech students becoming Gulfstream employees. These donations will help us and other aerospace companies continue to hire well-trained and highly skilled employees from right here in Savannah.”

“Gulfstream’s commitment to education and shared vision with Savannah Technical College ensures our graduates are ready to work in the aviation industry,” said Kathy S. Love, president, Savannah Tech. “We appreciate Gulfstream’s continued support of training to advance economic and community development for our region.”

Along with the mid-cabin aircraft, Gulfstream donated fly-by-wire components, including manifolds and actuators, from the G650 and a flap assembly and fuselage panel assembly from the G450.

“I want to thank Gulfstream for its generous contribution,” said Tal Loos, Savannah Tech’s dean of aviation. “Classroom training is important, but there is no substitute for hands-on training. This aircraft will provide unique real-world experience for our students and help them acquire skills and knowledge that will better prepare them for a career in aviation.”

Savannah Tech’s aviation technology division offers degree, diploma and certificate programs in aviation maintenance and diploma and certificate programs in aircraft structural technology. The nearly 30,000-square-foot Aviation Training Center at the school’s Crossroads campus includes labs, classrooms and a 5,000-square-foot/464.5-square-meter hangar. Savannah Tech will offer a new airframe and powerplant program this summer after earning certification from the FAA.

Originally introduced as the “Astra,” the G100’s almost 22-year legacy began March 19, 1984, when the plane completed its first flight. It received its type certification in August 1985 and entered service the following year.

The donated G100, which does not include its engines and some components, entered service on Sept. 14, 1994. More than half of its 8,472 flight hours and 5,406 landings came during the nearly nine years it flew on Gulfstream Field and Airborne Support Teams (FAST) missions or transported company personnel. FAST uses dedicated aircraft to deliver flight-essential parts and/or technicians to Gulfstream owners whose aircraft are under warranty in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

There are more than 140 G100s or Astra-derivative aircraft still in service.

For more information: SavannahTech.edu, Gulfstream.com