Certification Expected In Early '07

Dassault Falcon’s Little Rock, AR completion center recently accepted the first Falcon 7X (s/n 05) for completion. The world’s first purpose built fly-by-wire business jet arrived from Bordeaux-Merignac with a "green" Falcon 2000EX EASy escort, that also arrived for completion, on Tuesday, December 12. Both were greeted by the 1800 engineers, craftsman and designers that comprise Dassault’s largest facility worldwide.

"Little Rock has been preparing for this moment since the Falcon 7X program was announced in 2001," said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. "We’ve increased employment, enlarged our production facility and are evaluating further increases to accommodate the unprecedented demand for all Falcon aircraft but particularly the Falcon 7X."

During 2007 Dassault expects to deliver a significant number of the 5950 nm 7X tri-jet. All 7X aircraft will be completed at the Little Rock facility.

The facility has dedicated four hangars (99,000 square feet) solely for 7X completions. In addition, Dassault expects to increase employment at the facility by slightly more than 200 over the coming years to accommodate the demand. It is already the world’s largest Dassault facility with nearly 1800 employees and 700,000 square feet of work area.

Largely due to the utilization of the PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) processes, the time required to complete the 7X will eventually be lower than other Falcons. Cabinet, paint and manufacturing shops have already begun production. Cabinets and upholstery, for example, are now being manufactured in much less time due to new automated systems.

The Falcon 7X flight test and certification program is now nearing 1300 flight hours and 450 flights. The four aircraft used in the program are now flown daily with many performing multiple flights every day. Certification flights are expected to be completed by the end of this year. Falcon 7X s/n 05 is expected to be the first aircraft to enter service when it’s delivered to a European based customer during the second quarter of 2007 following certification by the EASA and FAA expected in early 2007.

Dassault says its Falcon 7X program is the most successful launch of a large cabin business jet ever with over 125 aircraft on order. Forty aircraft are now in various stages of production, with s/n 19 in final assembly at Charles Lindbergh Hall in Bordeaux-Merignac.

Announced last year, production of the Falcon 7X will increase to three per month in late 2007. To accommodate demand, future production increases are currently being evaluated. The next delivery position available is in 2011.

Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, and is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout North America, South America, and the Pacific Rim countries of Asia, including China.

FMI: www.dassaultfalcon.com