<p><img alt="Gary Forster - WW 20160112" src="/getasset/1999c739-4b9b-4f5c-8205-1a4876559c71/" /></p>
<p>A passion for fixed-base operations which was kindled while working as a weekend volunteer in Newcastle has taken Gary Forster to the paradise island of Bali – via the Middle East – to run ExecuJet’s expanding facility.</p>
<p><img alt="Gary Forster - WW 20160112 (Image)" src="/getasset/046567c4-c56f-4116-b7fa-0420c7ffca46/" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left; width: 200px; height: 179px;" /><strong>Tell us about your career to date</strong></p>
<p><em>I started working weekends as a volunteer at the local fixed-base operation (FBO) in Newcastle, UK, while I was learning to fly, and that eventually became a full-time operations role. </em></p>
<p><em>The FBO developed quickly and we began ramp/flight planning and started selling fuel, representing the FBO and Air BP at trade shows. </em></p>
<p><em>I then moved into an operations manager position with a maritime patrol organisation, operating a fleet of aircraft under contract for the UK government. </em></p>
<p><em>My fuel interest was rekindled when Air BP approached me to oversee its airport fuel facilities and I quickly became training champion, travelling and working all over the UK. </em></p>
<p><em>In this role, I managed the fuel farm at the Rolls-Royce Engine Test Facilities in Derby and Hucknall, as well as the civilian site at RAF Northolt. I then returned to my true vocation of FBOs and started the Riyadh facility for ExecuJet before moving on to the paradise island of Bali to set up its FBO. </em></p>
<p><strong>Have you always been interested in aviation?</strong></p>
<p><em>Yes. My parents used to take me to Newcastle airport as a child and I used to watch aircraft for hours. I took my first flight, aged six, in a Britannia Airways 737-200 to Spain. </em></p>
<p><em>I obtained my private pilot’s licence, but never had the desire to fly commercially. </em></p>
<p><em>After nearly 30 years of being involved with aircraft, the fascination still grips me and has given me many great opportunities in life. </em></p>
<p><strong>Describe your current role </strong></p>
<p><em>As the general manager for ExecuJet in Bali I am responsible for all aspects of the operation, from finances to staffing, and business development to customer relations. I am still very eager to get out on the ramp to meet and greet clients, crew, and friends who use the new general aviation terminal. </em></p>
<p><strong>What makes Bali a popular destination for business aircraft customers?</strong></p>
<p><em>The island has a quality like nowhere else; the mix of religions and the extraordinarily friendly people, together with the beautiful beaches and yearround temperatures give Bali the edge over many destinations. </em></p>
<p><em>The vast majority of clients who visit are here to relax and unwind; a set of golf clubs is more commonly seen than a business suit. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: rgb(100, 123, 135); font-size: 24px; line-height: 38.4000015258789px; text-align: center;">“I am still very eager to get out on the ramp to meet and greet clients, crew and friends”</strong></p>
<p><strong>What are your biggest challenges?</strong></p>
<p><em>Business aviation is in its infancy in Indonesia and there are tremendous growth opportunities with such a huge and diverse culture and country. </em></p>
<p><em>The expansion currently under way will be my biggest challenge as we look to expand our business model to other locations in Indonesia and Asia. </em></p>
<p><em>Recently, the government announced the building of 15 new airports by 2018 and the lengthening of 100 existing runways to accommodate 737-type aircraft at some of the current 237 airports. </em></p>
<p><strong>What are the best aspects of your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>The people I work with, the clients and the business aviation community, which all provide a great working environment, not to mention the beautiful island of Bali. I’m also very excited about the Asian market potential and ExecuJet’s presence here. </em></p>
<p><strong>What are your ambitions for ExecuJet’s Bali FBO?</strong></p>
<p><em>I want us to consistently be the best FBO in Asia and to rank among the best in the world.</em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15.2px; line-height: 21.28px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;">Looking for managerial positions within Aviation? Check out our listings online by <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/jobs/management-positions/?intcmp=FGJOB-careers_hub-Gary-Forster">CLICKING HERE</a>.</strong></em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15.2px; line-height: 21.28px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);">If you would like to feature in Working Week, or you know someone who does, email your pitch to <span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.6; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;"><a href="mailto:kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com?subject=Working%20Week%20Submission">kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com</a></strong>.</span></p>
<p>A passion for fixed-base operations which was kindled while working as a weekend volunteer in Newcastle has taken Gary Forster to the paradise island of Bali – via the Middle East – to run ExecuJet’s expanding facility.</p>
<p><img alt="Gary Forster - WW 20160112 (Image)" src="/getasset/046567c4-c56f-4116-b7fa-0420c7ffca46/" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left; width: 200px; height: 179px;" /><strong>Tell us about your career to date</strong></p>
<p><em>I started working weekends as a volunteer at the local fixed-base operation (FBO) in Newcastle, UK, while I was learning to fly, and that eventually became a full-time operations role. </em></p>
<p><em>The FBO developed quickly and we began ramp/flight planning and started selling fuel, representing the FBO and Air BP at trade shows. </em></p>
<p><em>I then moved into an operations manager position with a maritime patrol organisation, operating a fleet of aircraft under contract for the UK government. </em></p>
<p><em>My fuel interest was rekindled when Air BP approached me to oversee its airport fuel facilities and I quickly became training champion, travelling and working all over the UK. </em></p>
<p><em>In this role, I managed the fuel farm at the Rolls-Royce Engine Test Facilities in Derby and Hucknall, as well as the civilian site at RAF Northolt. I then returned to my true vocation of FBOs and started the Riyadh facility for ExecuJet before moving on to the paradise island of Bali to set up its FBO. </em></p>
<p><strong>Have you always been interested in aviation?</strong></p>
<p><em>Yes. My parents used to take me to Newcastle airport as a child and I used to watch aircraft for hours. I took my first flight, aged six, in a Britannia Airways 737-200 to Spain. </em></p>
<p><em>I obtained my private pilot’s licence, but never had the desire to fly commercially. </em></p>
<p><em>After nearly 30 years of being involved with aircraft, the fascination still grips me and has given me many great opportunities in life. </em></p>
<p><strong>Describe your current role </strong></p>
<p><em>As the general manager for ExecuJet in Bali I am responsible for all aspects of the operation, from finances to staffing, and business development to customer relations. I am still very eager to get out on the ramp to meet and greet clients, crew, and friends who use the new general aviation terminal. </em></p>
<p><strong>What makes Bali a popular destination for business aircraft customers?</strong></p>
<p><em>The island has a quality like nowhere else; the mix of religions and the extraordinarily friendly people, together with the beautiful beaches and yearround temperatures give Bali the edge over many destinations. </em></p>
<p><em>The vast majority of clients who visit are here to relax and unwind; a set of golf clubs is more commonly seen than a business suit. </em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: rgb(100, 123, 135); font-size: 24px; line-height: 38.4000015258789px; text-align: center;">“I am still very eager to get out on the ramp to meet and greet clients, crew and friends”</strong></p>
<p><strong>What are your biggest challenges?</strong></p>
<p><em>Business aviation is in its infancy in Indonesia and there are tremendous growth opportunities with such a huge and diverse culture and country. </em></p>
<p><em>The expansion currently under way will be my biggest challenge as we look to expand our business model to other locations in Indonesia and Asia. </em></p>
<p><em>Recently, the government announced the building of 15 new airports by 2018 and the lengthening of 100 existing runways to accommodate 737-type aircraft at some of the current 237 airports. </em></p>
<p><strong>What are the best aspects of your job?</strong></p>
<p><em>The people I work with, the clients and the business aviation community, which all provide a great working environment, not to mention the beautiful island of Bali. I’m also very excited about the Asian market potential and ExecuJet’s presence here. </em></p>
<p><strong>What are your ambitions for ExecuJet’s Bali FBO?</strong></p>
<p><em>I want us to consistently be the best FBO in Asia and to rank among the best in the world.</em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15.2px; line-height: 21.28px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;">Looking for managerial positions within Aviation? Check out our listings online by <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/jobs/management-positions/?intcmp=FGJOB-careers_hub-Gary-Forster">CLICKING HERE</a>.</strong></em></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15.2px; line-height: 21.28px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(77, 77, 77);">If you would like to feature in Working Week, or you know someone who does, email your pitch to <span style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.6; font-family: inherit;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit;"><a href="mailto:kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com?subject=Working%20Week%20Submission">kate.sarsfield@flightglobal.com</a></strong>.</span></p>