Need a Wheel Inspected on Your Gulfstream Jet? KaiserAir's Cliff Lofthouse Is the Person to See

OIn a world increasingly full of specialists, Cliff Lofthouse has one of the more unusual jobs: He is possibly the world's leading expert in inspecting the $7,000-plus wheels on the nation's Gulfstreams, Hawkers and other corporate jets.

KaiserAir's Lofthouse is so skilled at his task that he commands a 20 percent premium in prices compared to his handful of competitors, and business is still up 20 percent over last year.

The wheels on private jets need to be inspected about every 300 landings. The inspection consists of dismantling the wheel and tire, removing dirt and grime, replacing any parts that are worn, and then reassembling them to pristine standards. It takes about seven hours per wheel, and the inspection costs from $600 to $1,500, depending on the size of the wheel and the work needed.
KaiserAir, a full-service aviation management company located at Oakland International Airport, is the only firm in the San Francisco Bay Area that performs wheel and brake work and one of less than half a dozen in the nation. As a result, approximately 60 percent of the wheels are shipped in from other parts of the country.

"We give people personalized service and more attention to detail," said Lofthouse. "The brakes and wheels take more of a beating than any other part of the plane, and people want to be sure they're maintained correctly. We also take pride in returning them polished to an immaculate shine. Most people with jets like for their airplanes to look good."

Lofthouse, who has been with KaiserAir for a decade, has been an aviation technician for approximately 30 years. He developed his specialty by chance, but his love for his job is evident in the way he points out the details on various wheels in the shop.
KaiserAir has a wheel and brake department in order to offer complete service to the corporations and individuals for whom it manages business jet. "People who have jets want them to be ready to go at a moment's notice," said Sandy Waters, KaiserAir vice president. "They don't want to have to wait for us to go outside for parts or services."

KaiserAir inspects about 400 to 450 wheels each year, and has always accepted wheel and brake work on aircraft managed by other companies. This year, for the first time, it is now accepting non-managed aircraft for all of its maintenance services, whether it's replacing a burned-out light bulb or overhauling an engine.

KaiserAir is a full-service management company and fixed-base operator at Oakland International Airport, specializing in the operation and maintenance of Gulfstream, Hawker, Cessna and other business jet aircraft. Thirty-three of Fortune Magazine's Top 50 corporations make KaiserAir's Executive Terminal their home when they conduct business in the San Francisco area.
Additional information is available on the Internet at www.kaiserair.com, or by telephoning 510-569-9622.

Note: High-resolution photos, specifically designed for reproduction, can be downloaded from the Internet at www.givememore.com/kaiserair.

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