Dassault Aviation Reinforces Falcon Presence in Indian Market

The Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000S, recently certified by EASA and the FAA for low visibility approaches down to 100 feet using the advanced FalconEye Combined Vision System (CVS), will be spotlighted at India's largest military/civil aircraft show, Aero India, which opens February 20 at Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru. The 2000S will be presented alongside the company's Rafale frontline fighterat the five-day event.The firstFalcon 2000 nose section produced by the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) manufacturing facility in Nagpur, India, will be also displayed during the show.

"In addition to their unrivaled combination of range, agility and airport performance, the reputation of Falcon jets in India and the surrounding region rests on Dassault Aviation's half century of experience supplying the Indian Air Force with sturdy, technologically advanced fighters for its frontline combat aircraft requirements," said Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation.

The Falcon 2000 twin-engine business aircraft has long been popular with Indian operators for its reliability, cabin comfort, hot-and-high capability and low operating cost. Two third of the Falcons currently operating in the region are Falcon 2000s. The FalconEye enhanced flight vision system capability– the first Head Up Display (HUD) to combine synthetic and enhanced vision capabilities– greatly improves access to airports in bad weather and significantly enhances aircraft fleet efficiency. The system is now also certified for the Falcon 2000LXS and Falcon 8X.

The 3,350 nm/6,200 km Falcon 2000S– like its longer range version, the Falcon 2000LXS–offers a short-field capability comparable to smaller midsize business jet models but with arange and comfort level significantlybetter than competitor aircraft. Redesigned wings, more powerful engines and an intuitive second-generation EASy II flight deck improve the ability of the 2000S to operate in and out of small, hard-to-reach airfields like those throughoutthe Indian subcontinentwhile permitting passengers to fly from Mumbai to Beijing or Delhi to Moscow nonstop.

The Falcon 2000S is also available with a wide range of state-of-the-art options, including the new FalconConnectinflight connectivity service that seamlessly integrates all cockpit and cabin ground and satellite communications into a single bundled offering, and FalconSphere, a new comprehensive Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution.

Falcon 6X: the new benchmark for cabin size and comfort

Falcon twin-engine sales are expected to get a further boost in the region with the arrival of the all-new ultra widebody Falcon 6X twinjet, which will offer more cabin space than any other business jet in its category. The 6X recently entered the detail design phase and is well on track for a first flight in 2021 and initial deliveries in 2022.

The 5,500 nm/10,186 km Falcon 6X will also reinforce Dassault's presence in the long range segment, which is currently dominated by the 6,450 nm/11,945 km Falcon 8X and the 5,950 nm/11,020 km Falcon 7X trijets. The8X and 7X today account for the majorityshare of new Falcon aircraftdeliveries tothe Asian operators.

The Falcon 6X will comfortably link cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru directly to destinations such as Moscow, London or Cape Town.The 6X cabin will offer 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) of headroom and a floor width of 8 feet 6 inches (2.58 meters), more than any purpose-built business jet. It will accommodate 12-16 passengers in three separate lounge areas and offer multiple layout configurations, including a large entryway, a crew rest area, and a spacious rear lounge affording greater privacy, especially on long overnight flights.

The cabin will also be unusually bright, thanks to 30 extra-large windows and a skylight–an industry first–that provides additional natural light in the normally dim galley area.

The 6X will be equipped with several innovative design features, including a new ultra-efficient wing and a new-generation digital flight control system (DFCS) that commands all flight control surfaces, including slats and flaps, reducing pilot workload and increasing performance and safety. The DFCS will feature a new"flaperon" control surface, derived from fighter aircraft applications, that enhances lift and roll control, especially during approaches with a steep descent profile. It will also integrate nose-wheel steering for safer runway handling in strong cross-winds or on wet runways.

The aircraft will be powered by PW812D engines, based on proven core technology already employed in 16different Pratt & Whitney Canada PurePower engine applications.And like the Falcon 8X and 2000 models, the 6X will offer the FalconEyeCombined Vision System.

AeroIndia show guests will be able to view 3D immersive reality demonstrations of the 6X cabin at the Dassault chalet.

Falcon 8X: an unrivaled combination of range, versatility and airport performance

The Falcon 8X can fly nonstop from Europe to Asia or Asia to North America. It offers the quietest and most passenger-friendly cabin in business aviation, along with a broad selection of standard cabin configurations, including a forward lounge bar that can be easily converted into a certified crew rest area for very long flights.

Its industry-leading digital flight control suite ensures unrivaled flying agility and stability, ensuring an ultra-smooth flight. The Falcon 8X is available with the FalconEyeCombined Vision System, the new FalconConnect inflight connectivity service, and other world-class Dassault equipment options.

The FalconEye option is being further enhanced with the addition of a dual-HUD configuration that will support an EFVS-to-land capability, allowing pilots to fly a full approach and land without requiring natural vision to see the runway. The full approval of this capability is anticipated in 2020, initially for the Falcon 8X.

First fuselage front section assembly of Falcon 2000 to be delivered by DRAL to Dassault Aviation

The first fuselage front section of Falcon 2000 series aircraft produced by Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) in its manufacturing facility at Nagpur, is ready to be delivered to the DassaultAviation Falcon final assembly linein France.

In parallel, larger infrastructures are being developed and will soon be completed allowing the ramp-up of DRAL capabilities toward the assembly of a Falcon 2000 fully manufactured and assembled in India.

"Dassault Aviation's investment in India and our commitment to the "Make in India" and "Skill India" initiatives demonstrate our company's determination to helpgrow an Indian aerospace eco-system which matches the highest standards in the global aerospace market," declared Trappier.

Acquisitionof ExecuJet MRO unit expands Falcon service capability in Asia

In addition to its new local manufacturing capability, Dassault Aviation has been moving to reinforce its aftermarket customer support capabilityin the Indian subcontinent and Asia.

Earlier this year, the company agreed to acquire the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations of the ExecuJet Group, which offers product support in several locations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

"ExecuJet's global maintenance team has been providing state-of-the-art structural engineering and avionics services for decades, and will remain accessible to private jet owners of all types," said Trappier. "By retaining the team's separate identity and leadership and adding valuable synergies from the Dassault Group, we intend to make significantly enhanced service capabilities available to business jet operators around the world."

The ExecuJet facilities will complement existing Dassault Authorized Service Centers in Mumbai – one operated by Taj Air for the Falcon 2000 series, the other by Air Works India for the Falcon 900EX/LX line–and a Dassault spares distribution center, also located in Mumbai.

These resources are supported by regional facilities in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and a recently opened $50-million, 180,000-square-foot (16,500-square-meter) distribution centernear Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport that will expedite delivery of key spares throughout the Eastern Hemisphere.

Customers in the region also benefit from Falcon Response, Dassault's comprehensive AOG support service offering. This service is designed to whisk spare parts, repair tools and 24/7 Go Team specialists around the globe in the event of an aircraft on ground situation, enabledby two Falcon 900 aircraft. The Falcon Response aircraft can also be used for alternative lift – an industry first.