Falcon 7X and Customer Support Services to be Highlighted at CIBAS 2015

Dassault Aviation will feature the top of the line Falcon 7X at the China International Business Aviation Show (CIBAS) to be held at Beijing Capital Airport from September 24-26.

With 35 units in service, China remains the second largest market, behind the United States, for the Falcon 7X. More than 250 7X have come off the assembly line since the airplane was introduced.

“Demand for the Falcon 7X in China has remained relatively strong throughout the downturn here,” said Olivier Villa, Senior Vice President of Civil Aircraft for Dassault Aviation. “We also expect our new ultra-long range Falcon 8X trijet, set to begin deliveries next year, to receive a warm reception from Chinese customers. We anticipate bright future for this aircraft.”

Introduced last year as the new flagship of the Falcon family, the 6,450 nm/11,945 km 8X will offer the greatest range and the longest cabin of any Falcon, allowing it to take passengers from Beijing to Los Angeles or Hong Kong to Paris non-stop. The new aircraft will also offer the largest selection of cabin configurations in business aviation and the same low operating economics and remarkable operating flexibility for which all Falcons are known.

Strong demand is also expected for the Falcon 2000LXS twinjet, the newest version in the storied Falcon 2000 family. “We have been encouraged by the popularity of the Falcon 2000 line in China, notably the recent selection of the long-range 2000LX by the Beijing Red Cross Emergency Medical Center (999),” Villa continued. The Falcon 2000LXS combines the best blend of airport flexibility, cabin comfort and efficiency in the 4,000 nm segment.

Chinese customers are particularly attracted by the high level of comfort and style that characterizes the entire Falcon line. Cabin comfort and interior design have been company leitmotifs since the first Falcon 20 was introduced 50 years ago. Custom fitted by highly skilled craftsmen and inspired by the company’s typically French flare for design, Falcons are built to ensure an optimal mix of elegance and practicality with minimum waste of space and the latest in noise abatement, in flight entertainment and other cabin technologies.

Falcon Customer Service Expands in China
Earlier this year, the company signed an agreement with Beijing-based Deer Jet authorizing it to provide line maintenance and unscheduled maintenance for the Falcon 7X. Located at Beijing Capital Airport, Deer Jet is one of the largest business jet operators in the Asia Pacific region. It manages and supports a large fleet of executive aircraft, including the 7X. The agreement with Dassault allows Deer Jet to perform light line maintenance (up to 2A and 2A+ inspections) and unscheduled maintenance on Chinese registered Falcon 7X aircraft from its Beijing facility. Deer Jet has also applied for EASA and FAA full repair station approvals, which are expected to be granted within a year. 
 
Currently, the company has three technicians on staff dedicated to supporting Falcon customers, including provision of 24/7 AOG support. It is equipped with a substantial stock of Falcon tooling and spare parts and can also access more than $5 million in spares at Dassault’s nearby Beijing spares warehouse.

In addition to the agreement with Deer Jet, Dassault has been rapidly increasing customer support capabilities in China to serve the current fleet and anticipate future growth. The company has expanded spare parts inventory at its Beijing and Singapore Spares Depot, allowing it to stock the top 3,000 high demand parts for in-production aircraft. In total, the value of inventory at the company’s various regional distribution centers in the Asia-Pacific region now exceeds $30 million.

In 2013, Dassault established a Customer Service headquarters in Beijing. Led by Kathy Liu, Director of Customer Support for Asia, the office is staffed with Field Technical Representatives and Customer Care Managers, who provide assistance with warranty issues, spares and other operational matters. Kathy’s team recently grew with the addition of a Regional Technical Manager and a Field Technical Representative.

Shanghai Hawker Pacific is also a Falcon Authorized Service center capable of providing line and base maintenance for Falcon aircraft registered in China, Hong Kong, Macau and the U.S. It also has a dedicated inventory of Falcon spares.

Second China M&O to be Held During CIBAS
Following the success of the recent Falcon M&O Seminar in Beijing, Dassault will conduct a second Maintenance and Operation event here during CIBAS. The half-day seminar, on September 24, will include a general session for all attendees and two breakout sessions for pilots and technicians. The general session will present an overview of customer support expansion and initiatives to help enhance after sales support worldwide with a focus on the region. The pilot session will deal with operational, regulatory, and safety topics. The technical session will cover program updates, product improvements and safety.

Dassault will be located at Chalet #1 during CIBAS.