Sales of Dassault Falcon business jets passed the century mark in 2005, with firm orders for 123 aircraft, despite the fact it has not made multiple sales to fractional providers. China took its first order of a new Falcon in late December when the largest state-owned financial services holding company Citic purchased a Falcon 900DX.
Falcon jets accounted for 48% of Dassault’s consolidated 2005 sales, with the Falcon 7X selling 80 units. “2005 represents a high mark in the history of the Falcon programme,” says chairman and chief executive Charles Edelstenne. “Demand is strong worldwide. Traditionally, about 60% of our sales have come from the USA. This year, that percentage will be about 50%”. He attributes this to a sign of strengthening global market demand, particularly from western Europe, Russia, Ukraine and countries in the Middle East. At the end of 2005, Dassault had a total backlog of more than 200 aircraft with more than 60 aircraft set for delivery in 2006.
Growth
John Rosanvallon, Dassault Falcon Jet president and chief executive attributes the growth in sales to its advantageous fuel efficiency of up to 30%. The Falcon programme chalked up several milestones last year, including flying the 7X for the first time, and the company now has three aircraft in a flight-test programme that is expected to last 1,200h. One third of this programme has now been completed with 450 flight hours performed. The aircraft has achieved speeds up to Mach 0.92 and flown at 51,000ft (15,550m). Currently 30 aircraft are in various stages of production, with serial number 7 in final assembly. The next available delivery position is in early 2010.
Dassault is also firming up plans for a new super mid-sized business jet and has begun talking to potential industrial partners on the programme. “A decision on whether to go ahead will probably be made in early 2007,” says the company. The aircraft is likely to be a twinjet and cost $15-20 million.
Source: Flight International
