On the Record with JOHN ROSANVALLON, PRESIDENT &
CEO, DASSAULT FALCON JET
Some executives struggle to find good news to release at the annual
NBAA show. Not so for Dassault Falcon Jet president and CEO John
Rosanvallon, who will be able to show off three new airplane programs
this week: the 2000EX, 900EX EASy, and 7X.
The presence of the Falcon 2000EX in Orlando will be its first
appearance at NBAA, or any show, for that matter. It received
its FAA/JAA certification in March, and first delivery was in
May.
The longer-range, Pratt-powered 2000EX has a nonstop capability
of 3,800 nmi (six passengers, NBAA IFR reserves, M0.80). The main
benefit will be westbound nonstop flights from Paris or London
to the east coast of the U.S., even into winter headwinds, or
eastbound flights to Europe from major Midwestern cities like
Detroit, Chicago or Minneapolis. Other headwind legs like Dubai
to London, and São Paulo to Miami will also be achievable
nonstop.
"By the end of 2004 we will have delivered 210 (Falcon 2000)
airplanes," said Rosanvallon. "Though the fractional
business has suffered, we think we see some positive signs."
NetJets has 33 Falcon 2000s operating in the USA and Europe, and
holds a firm order to 25 Falcon 2000EX models. "They have
suffered as we have in 2003, and I hope we start to see higher
activity," said Rosanvallon.
Falcon Jet's 900EX EASy will also be making an Orlando appearance,
and the company expects to have delivered six by year's end, said
Rosanvallon. Falcon Jet describes EASy as an "operating system
implemented on the hardware platform of Honeywell's Primus Epic
system."
The 2000EX is also receiving the EASy treatment, and flight
testing is scheduled for completion first quarter of 2004. The
first 2000EX to be delivered with the EASy cockpit will be s/n
29.
Not flying yet is the 7X, but Falcon Jet will have the airplane's
cockpit simulator on its stand. "We will show for the first
time the combination of EASy with a fly-by-wire sidestick,"
said Rosanvallon.
"Things are progressing well, and we are maintaining our
target of first flight by Paris Air Show 2005. The airplane is
defined in a lot of detail, and 90% of our experience with the
fly-by-wire system is derived from our military experience with
the Mirage 2000 and Rafale."
The 7X tri-jet will have a range of about 5,700 nmi, and will
have a new wing with a high-transonic design. Rosanvallon said
there are 35-40 deposits of no less than $1 million each for the
7X. Production would be sold out through 2008 if all deposits
were realized.
Regarding sales and production, Dassault Falcon Jet has revised
its projections downward due to the economy.
The company will deliver 40-50 airplanes in 2003 (down from 66
in 2002), with total orders expected to be in the 35-50 range. "That
is a very challenging year," said Rosanvallon, adding that
the company will be conservative in its production projections for
2004, with a range of 30-50 airplanes.
"Certainly the first six months have been difficult, but the
last few weeks have showed encouraging signs that things are staring
to turn around," he noted.
