Two Dassault Falcon 2000EXs which are currently in flight test at Dassault's Istres, France facility have jointly accumulated 180 hours of flying time since the first airplane flew on October 25, 2001. Joint Aviation Authorities test pilots have performed 17 flights on the aircraft, which is on course for FAA and JAA certification by year-end.

"We've taken the airplane through its entire flight envelope, up to 47,000 feet and its MMO of 0.87 Mach," reports Dassault's Falcon 2000EX program manager Jean-Louis Cuvillier, "and continue to be impressed at how well it's performing. Our pilots feel the effects of the higher-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C engines, not to mention the higher rates of climb [versus those of the CFE738-powered Falcon 2000]."

A cold-soak test in Northern Canada (Resolute Bay) has confirmed the aircraft's systems down to -39°C. The 2000EX's new high-efficiency Nordam ASP thrust reversers have been validated up to their maximum reverse thrust at 75% N1 at sea level.

Falcon 2000EX s/n 2 has additional duties aside from the test and certification program. It is a completed aircraft with standard interior and equipment and is thus being used in an accelerated maturation program, performing more than four flights per day in a routine operating environment that builds on the experience of Falcon 2000 operators who have logged more than 180,000 flights.

Series production of the 2000EX is on schedule, with s/n 7 currently in final assembly at Dassault's Bordeaux-Merignac plant. First customer delivery is slated for second quarter 2003, with deliveries of the 2000EX equipped with EASy flight deck expected a year later.

"We are essentially building on the success of the Falcon 2000 program," said Dassault chairman Charles Edelstenne. "By the end of 2004, between deliveries of the Falcon 2000 and 2000EX, we will have reached the 300 mark."

A major customer for the popular twinjet has been Netjets, Inc., which placed an initial order for 66 Falcon 2000s in 1998, adding a further six last year, plus 50 2000EXs, 25 firm and 25 options. More than 20 Falcon 2000s are now flying with NetJets fractional ownership program.