Falcon Jet Family Finds Faithful Following; Claims More Versatility Than Heavier Jets

Dassault Aviation does not build the world's biggest or smallest business jets, but it holds a very strong position in the upper-middle sector of the market with a closely packed family of four aircraft. Indeed, so finely does it segment its market that the empty weight of the largest Falcon, the 900X, is just 15 percent greater than that of the smallest, the Falcon 2000. Dassault claims a 50 percent share of business aircraft units sold over $17 million .

The foundation of today's Falcon family was the Falcon 50, introduced in the 1970s. The first business jet to challenge the Gulfstream II in the long-range market, the Falcon 50 was Dassault's first three-engine jet and featured a computer-designed wing and airliner-style high-lift system. In 1986, Dassault certificated the 900, with a larger version of the 50's wing, a wider cabin and more power. The same basic wing, cockpit and cabin section are used on the Falcon 2000.

While Dassault does not usually release numbers for orders and deliveries, the company did announce a record 97 orders in 1997 - a figure boosted by a late-year announcement of an order from Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) for 24 Falcon 2000s, to be used in its North American fractional ownership program. This compared with a two-year total of 105 deliveries in 1997-98. At last month's Farnborough air show, EJA ordered another 12 Falcon 2000s for NetJets Europe, with options on another 12 aircraft.

The Executive Jet order helped boost the Falcon 2000 to the position of Dassault's top-selling aircraft. The first delivery of Dassault's transcontinental-range, "double-club" business aircraft took place in 1995 and more than 70 are now in service. Dassault's only twin, it is the only platform for the GE/ AlliedSignal CFE738 engine and is equipped with Collins ProLine 4 avionics and Sextant electronic engine instruments.

More than half of Dassault's Falcon 2000 customers have opted for the Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 Head-Up Guidance System (HGS). Earlier this year, the Falcon 2000 with HGS became the first business jet to be approved for operations in Category IIIa conditions by Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The basic system had been approved by the JAA in August 1996 and by the FAA in September 1997, but the Falcon 2000 can now land with a 700 foot runway visual range and a 50 foot decision height. This allows a Falcon 2000 operator to file a flight plan to an airport which may be closed to operators with other business jets.

Dassault is working on FAA and JAA approval for low visibility takeoff guidance, and for the ability to use HGS to land on Category I runways in Category II weather conditions. The company also says HGS is a valuable aid to approach monitoring and situational awareness under good conditions.

Dassault's largest aircraft, the Falcon 900EX, is also offered with the Flight Dynamics HGS. Developmental testing was completed in September, and FAA certification to Category II is expected in early 1999. Category III approval is expected in the third quarter of the year.

Dassault continues to market the 900EX as the economical alternative to heavyweight jets. Its 4,500 nm range covers most city pairs nonstop, and will cover most of the globe with one stop. The 900EX has been in service since 1996, and 29 had been delivered by mid-1998. The lighter, less costly 900C is also in production.

The company's longest-established design was updated in 1996 as the Falcon 50EX. With a smaller cabin and engines than the 900, this 12-passenger, 3,250 nm-range aircraft now features similar Collins ProLine 4 avionics to the Falcon 2000 and the updated AlliedSignal TFE731-40 engine. The Falcon 50EX is Dassault's "go-anywhere" aircraft, with a combination of long range, short-runway performance and overwater capability that is unique in its size and price class.

Despite being a relatively specialized aircraft, the 50EX has a strong market appeal--one U.S. company ordered five in 1997 --and is in production as a surveillance aircraft for the French Navy.

By Bill Sweetman