The Dassault Falcon 7X business jet has passed the 70-sale bar, John Rosanvallon, president of Dassault Falcon Jet, told Aviation International News yesterday here at the Dubai airshow.

Negotiations are under way for more orders in the region. Separately, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-based National Air Services (NAS) is thinking of buying some Falcon 2000EXs for its NetJets Middle East operation.

“It is challenging to offer 2010 delivery slots as the earliest ones available,” Rosanvallon commented. Among others, Dassault is talking to NetJets Europe about a 7X order that may be chalked up late this year or early in 2006.

The French-based manufacturer expects 2005 to be an all-time record year with more than 100 Falcon orders–with or without the NetJets order.

During the first half of this year, 62 business jets were sold. “This year we are planning for a very good year here in the Middle East, with approximately ten sales,” Rosanvallon added. Those are mainly Falcon 2000EX and Falcon 900EX.

A decision has still to be made on launching a new $18- to $20 million super midsize Falcon that would fit below the Falcon 2000 series. “It is a tricky economic equation because other players are on this segment already,” Rosanvallon explained.

Dassault is committed to produce the $20-million-plus midsize trijet Falcon 50EX until the end of 2007 but no decision has been made yet about whether to continue thereafter.