Providing Predictability in an Unpredictable World

Corporate aviation is a lot of things, but one thing it’s not is predictable. Sudden changes in weather, destinations, airspace, and company needs keep flight department managers on their toes 24/7.

And that’s exactly why Gilead Sciences, Inc. trusts Rolls-Royce Business Aviation’s CorporateCare and CorporateCare Enhanced programs: they bring “budget predictability” to this global flight department’s unpredictable world.

“Gilead Sciences is a huge business aviation advocate, and we use our airplanes quite a bit,” explains the company’s director of aircraft maintenance, Valentin Florea. “We typically average over 1,500 hours a year across the fleet, with last year being a bit higher—we had just under 500 cycles on our aircraft.”

He says that, with biopharmaceutical research and production facilities located worldwide, the flight department complements its active North American flight schedule by providing extensive international travel to locations throughout Europe and Asia.

Yet, as much as it relies on its fleet and advocates corporate aviation, like so many other companies, Gilead Sciences’ flight department is driven by its “bottom line.”

“Being able to predict and control our maintenance budget is the big reason why we have been participating in Rolls-Royce’s CorporateCare programs for so long,” Florea says. “The first G650ER joined the fleet in 2015, and CorporateCare covered it. When the second G650ER was added a couple of years later, the decision was made to enroll that aircraft in CorporateCare Enhanced.”

“It’s been working out really well for us,” he continues. “Knowing budget numbers and predicting expenses is a big thing for the company. Rolls-Royce CorporateCare and CorporateCare Enhanced deliver budgetary peace-of-mind.”

“I really like the ‘Enhanced’ version, because it covers everything that comes from Rolls-Royce,” says Florea. “It’s not only the engine that’s covered, but the inlets, nacelle, and thrust reverser are all included. I think the only problem is not having it.”

Aside from the accessories covered by CorporateCare Enhanced, both programs cover labor, troubleshooting, technician travel, and lease engines. If an engine is enrolled in the Rolls-Royce Business Aviation programs, it takes on all the responsibility for whatever it costs to get that AOG off the ground.

The Doctor Will See You Now

Florea says that in his DOM roles with Gilead Sciences and his prior flight department, he’s had considerable experience with the wonders that Rolls-Royce Business Aviation’s global support network can accomplish.

“I don’t know how they do it, but Rolls-Royce has always done an amazing job of providing support no matter where our airplanes are,” he explains. “A few months ago, one of our aircraft was in London, and it had an issue with a ‘sluggish’ valve on one of the engines.”

“We didn’t even know there was a problem until I got a notification from Rolls-Royce saying they had already shipped the parts to us in California to arrive by the time the aircraft returned,” Florea continues. “That level of support is amazing. All the pilots noticed was a couple of seconds’ delay in a valve. I love things like that—having someone in the background watching over things is priceless.”

He shared a story about another instance that occurred on a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Upon landing, they discovered an engine issue. Once they determined the cause, Florea made one call to Rolls-Royce Business Aviation’s dedicated Aircraft Availability Center (AAC) near Berlin.

“It was 6 p.m. local time when I called the AAC. First thing the next morning, our customer representative called and said they had already dispatched on-wing technicians from London with the tools and parts to make the repair,” he explains. “The service was incredible, but what I really remember is that I never saw an invoice for the work.”

And while not having any additional paperwork to deal with was a huge plus for Florea, the fact that Rolls-Royce Business Aviation’s dedicated on-wing service team was onsite and had the airplane repaired and back in the air quickly made a huge impression on company management.

Of course, that level of support doesn’t just happen. Rolls-Royce is the only engine manufacturer with a group that’s totally dedicated to business aviation. And, that business unit is backed by a global support network of 85 authorized service centers, 80 on-wing technical experts, 10 spares stores, and one billion dollars invested in replacement engines and parts, all controlled from the company’s 24-7-365 Aircraft Availability Center.

“I make one phone call and everyone on the Rolls-Royce Aircraft Availability team knows what’s going on with the airplane,” he says. “I think that level of customer support is phenomenal. No other OEM that I’ve ever worked with delivers that kind of service.”

Predictability Now. Profitability Later.

Florea says the unparalleled customer support and CFO-friendly budget predictability that Gilead Sciences’ flight department enjoys through having its G650s enrolled in the CorporateCare and CorporateCare Enhanced programs is “definitely worth the cost.”

But one thing he feels is often overlooked is the bottom-line boost an aircraft’s value receives through enrollment in the Rolls-Royce Business Aviation programs.

“When you go to sell the airplane, and it’s on a CorporateCare or CorporateCare Enhanced program, it changes the market value quite a lot compared to one that’s not enrolled,” Florea explains. “Buyers want the coverage. I’ve seen it add double-digit percentage increases to the airplane’s purchase price.”

In fact, Gilead Sciences feels so strongly about the benefits of Rolls-Royce Business Aviation’s CorporateCare Enhanced program that it had its new Gulfstream G800 enrolled before the aircraft was delivered this past April, and it plans to do the same when it adds two G500s in the next few years.

“I can’t see a downside to any of it. While the ability to predict and control our budget is critical today, to me the biggest benefit is the peace of mind I have with Rolls-Royce support, and that level of support is one thing I can’t put a price on,” Florea says. “To me, support is everything.”

“From my personal experience, when it comes to enhancing the reliability, availability, and value of our aircraft, no one else can match the total package that Rolls-Royce Business Aviation delivers every day,” he concludes. “Yes, it’s a huge investment on their part, but it pays off big for their customers.”