August 16, 2013
Gulfstream Aerospace has hired more than 100 new employees and nearly 70 contractors at its Appleton, WI facility this year. Many of these jobs have been added to meet demand for the G650 business jet.
The new personnel fill positions ranging from warehouse staff to aircraft engineers. Gulfstream employs 850 full-time employees and 75 contractors at the facility, and aircraft technicians make up over half the workforce. The Appleton location serves two primary purposes: as a completion center for large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft and as a service center.
“Gulfstream is the largest general aviation employer in Wisconsin,” said NBAA’s Central Region Representative Bob Quinn, “and its growth has provided a very positive economic impact for the state.”
The Gulfstream Appleton facility, on Outagamie County Regional Airport (ATW), contributes to the $3.5 billion boost general aviation provides to Wisconsin’s economy each year, according to General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Gulfstream and GAMA hosted a general aviation jobs rally at the Appleton facility earlier this summer. Hundreds of manufacturing workers, aviation experts and business leaders attended the event. Among the speakers were Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Reps. Tom Petri (R-6-WI) and Reid Ribble (R-8-WI) and local officials, who emphasized the value of general aviation to the economy of Wisconsin and the skilled, well-paying jobs created by the industry.
“We need to incentivize and promote and help folks like you to build a successful business like this one,” said Sen. Johnson at the rally.
“General aviation is a success story in Appleton that we would like to see continue and get stronger,” said Gulfstream’s Greg Laabs, vice president and general manager in Appleton. “It’s important not only for legislators to hear that but for them to share that information with their constituents and colleagues. The excitement and enthusiasm expressed during these rallies definitely reflects how employees feel about the work they’re doing and the industry they’re in.”
Following the event, a press release quoted Walker as saying, “I’m proud to be a part of this event to celebrate and promote general aviation. The economic impact created by general aviation is strong, and it plays such an important role in providing the transportation needs of individuals and business across the globe.”
Gulfstream has more than 200 orders for the G650 with associated completions scheduled until 2017. Deliveries of the business jet began last December.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.