News
09/18/07 - Grob Aerospace Inc Opens in New Hampshire to Support North American Customers
Grob Aerospace Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grob Aerospace AG, opened North American headquarters at Pease International Tradeport at Portsmouth, New Hampshire in July, and will provide a strategic launch pad for the centralized provision of regional marketing, sales and customer service support activity for all US and Canadian-based customers.. The Pease International Tradeport is located on the site of the former 4,500-acre Pease Air Force Base which was converted to commercial use in the early ‘90s with 24-hour a day operation and is a first US destination stop from Europe.
The company today also maintains regional sales offices and a highly proficient network of factory-authorized service centers throughout theUnited States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia in order to offer comprehensive, first-class, worldwide product support. In the US, Landmark Aviation, Stevens Aviation and Aero Air have already been appointed authorized service facilities to provide service, spares and warranty support in the US from facilities in Los Angeles (CA), Denver (CO), Houston (TX), Springfield (IL), Greenville (SC) and Portland (OR). Technicians at these service partner facilities are highly experienced on a wide range of aircraft and able to perform all types of light and heavy airframe and power plant maintenance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Executive Management
Leading the development of the North American subsidiary is Claude Chidiac, an 18-year veteran of the business aircraft industry who has held senior positions managing the Bombardier Aerospace product line.
Heading up customer service and support is Cary Brown, who has more than 30-years experience in OEM customer service and product support. As Director of Customer Service, Brown is responsible for overseeing all aspects of customer service and product support for the spn business jet in North America. Brown was most recently President and CEO of HeliFlite Shares, an FAA Part 135 fractional shares and charter operator, and has held executive positions in customer support with Eurocopter in both Germany and France. Prior to joining Eurocopter he was Director of Customer Support for Turbomeca Engine Corp. He holds a Commercial pilot certificate, is an A&P and has a BS in business from Ottawa University in Kansas.
In addition to the North American headquarters in Portsmouth, the company maintains strategically located regional sales offices in the United States.
Skip Hockman, Sales Director, Northeast Region, has responsibility for serving customers of the spn business jet in the northeastern section of the United States, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Rick Nickerson, Sales Director, Central Region., based in St. Louis and serves customers of the spn business jet in the central part of the United States, including Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.
Josh Kovac, Sales Director, Western Region, has responsibility for serving customers in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. He is based in California ’s central coast.
About Grob Aerospace and the Composite Advantages
Grob Aerospace AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland with manufacturing and assembly facilities in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, where it maintains its own airfield. For the past 35 years, Grob Aerospace has delivered more than 3,500 aircraft that have flown over seven million hours on five continents. Its product range evolved from pioneering gliders of the ‘70s and the record-breaking high-altitude aircraft of the ‘80s and ‘90s, to today’s leading-edge-designed and state-of-the-art business jets, as well as to training and special mission aircraft.
Lightness and exceptional strength are primary characteristics of full-composite airframes. With smooth, rivetless surfaces, these carbon fiber structures allow superior aerodynamics. With significantly less exposure to corrosion or fatigue damage than metal, composite technology also translates into low maintenance costs.
Over the years Grob Aerospace has established a proven track record of excellence in applied composite aircraft technology. For the G850 / Strato 2C aircraft the company developed and built one of the world’s largest single-piece composite wings, with a span of 185 feet (56.5 meters). This established the company as a world leader in the design and production of composites.
The competitive advantages of composites include superior aerodynamics - owing to the lightness and solidity of the material - coupled with flexibility and high-impact resistance. Even in case of damage to the airframe, onsite repairs are typically quick, easy and cost-effective, thus keeping down-times to a minimum.