Dassault Aviation president Eric Trappier on Monday highlighted two key management handoffs, revealed limited information about the ongoing new-twinjet program beyond the Falcon 6X, and generally summarized the company’s activities since last year’s NBAA-BACE.
Dassault plans to unveil the “all-new Falcon model” in 2021, he said. “It further develops the fully digital design platform,” Trappier said, innovated by Dassault Group’s Dassault Systemes business unit. “Dassault has been pioneering smart aircraft design for 50 years,” he said.
Along with the reveal of the long-anticipated next Falcon, Dassault expects to open a new factory near Paris in 2021. Trappier also said Dassault is laying the groundwork for a fighter to replace the Rafale.
He also addressed the prospects for a supersonic business jet, expressing reservations about the technology being “just around the corner.” He said major questions remain, starting with environmental considerations. “Does it make sense to rush in with a supersonic business jet?” he asked.
Trappier introduced Carlos Brana as the new executive v-p of civil aviation, replacing Olivier Villa, who retired earlier this year, as well as Thierry Betbeze, who replaces Jean Rosanvallon as president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet.
He also touched on initiatives to ramp up Falcon customer service, including the acquisitions of MROs from Execujet, TAG, and Ruag. These and other activities brought results in the form of top ratings in AIN’s annual product support readers’ survey, the first time the French OEM has topped the survey.
As for market outlook, Trappier said business uncertainties continue to lead to “wait and see” attitudes, though July and August brought a surge in sales. “We saw 19 aircraft sold in that time,” Trappier said. China remains sluggish, he admitted, but Japan has ordered six Falcons for its coast guard, the Royal Australian Air Force has ordered Falcon 7X models for VIP transport, and he hinted that the French military was also interested in VIP transport Falcons.
