Dassault Falcon (stand W310) is expecting a surge of orders from India following today's announcement at the show that the French manufacturer has received a type certificate for the Falcon 7X from India's civil aviation authority.

Falcon 2000 and 900 models are already certificated in India and around 16 large-cabin Falcons are in service in the country.

The first Falcon 7X in India will be delivered in January 2010 to Religare Voyages, a charter company based in New Delhi and part of a multi-billion dollar integrated transnational promoter group straddling financial services, diagnostics, health and wellness, and IT services, globally.

Religare Voyages operates a Falcon 2000, together with smaller jets and turboprops.

Dassault Falcon 7X
 

A dozen of other large-cabin Falcons including several 7X aircraft are on order for customers in India. The performance of the Falcons are especially valued in India, where short airfields, elevated runways and high temperatures are common.

Dassault has also established in the last few years a spares centre in Mumbai, along with a customer service team based in Mumbai, a liaison office in Delhi, and service centres approved by the Indian civil aviation authority.

"India has been one of our strongest markets over several years so Falcon 7X type certification is of real significance," says John Rosanvallon, Dassault Falcon president and chief executive.

"As the country's economy continues to strengthen, there will be an increasing need to connect India efficiently with other major centres of trade around the world. For example, the Falcon 7X provides direct, non-stop access from Chennai, India with London City airport."

Source: Flight Daily News