Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Dassault is presenting its new Falcon 8X flagship aircraft for the first time at this week’s LABACE show in São Paulo. The long-range jet will enter service in Brazil during the fourth quarter of this year if certification by the country’s aviation regulator, ANAC, proceeds as expected over the next two months. The 8X received certification from the FAA and EASA in early July, after 8X Serial Number 3 completed a global proving tour in April.

 


The 6,450 nautical-mile 8X has the range to connect São Paulo to destinations as far afield as Moscow, which means it can also make all of Europe and the U.S. non-stop from the Brazilian city. The proving tour also showed how well the aircraft performed in different operating conditions (from extreme hot weather to extreme cold) while providing exceptional cabin comfort and connectivity. The tour consisted of 65 flights that varied in duration from 18 minutes to 14 hours, with total flying itinerary of 55,000 nm, as the aircraft visited 46 destinations in Europe, the Americas, China and Southeast Asia.

 


“Feedback from the operational trials--cabin comfort, air conditioning, and in particular cabin noise--was excellent, and indicate the aircraft is poised for a flawless service entry,” said Dassault senior vice president Olivier Villa. “Moreover, new innovations in aircraft insulation will allow us to further lower cabin noise compared to the Falcon 7X.”

 


Production of the 8X is continuing to ramp up to meet growing demand for the aircraft. Serial number 429 is currently in final assembly at Dassault’s Mérignac production plant near Bordeaux in southwest France, while a total of 15 aircraft are in the final completion phase.

 


John Rosanvallon, Dassault Falcon president and CEO, said the 8X “has broken new ground” in the industry. “Brazil has shown strong demand for the 8X since we first announced the program two years ago, with four of the first 20 aircraft scheduled to be delivered there. That’s a great sign of a Brazilian market that might be turning the corner for the better,” he commented.

 


The manufacturer believes that its Dassault Aircraft Services subsidiary in Sorocaba, an hour’s drive west of São Paulo, is “key” to Falcon success in Brazil. To meet the needs of South American customers, it recently added a further $3 million to its spares inventory there (taking the total to over $7.5 million), and has continuously added repair capabilities since 2009.

 


From Sorocaba, Dassault can dispatch an AOG team to support Falcon aircraft anywhere in South America, “along with the parts and tools necessary to get the aircraft flying again with minimal delay.”

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