(Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 13, 2008) Dassault Falcon today revealed plans to establish a factory-owned Falcon Service Center at Sorocaba Airport (SOD) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new service center will help to support a fast growing Falcon fleet that in Brazil -- anticipated to double in size to over 50 airplanes in the next three years. The project is expected to be completed in the coming months and open in the fourth quarter of 2008.
“Dassault’s new service center in Sao Paulo is a direct result of our commitment to a Brazilian market that has always been very pro-Falcon,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “We will continue to invest in our service and spares parts to ensure our customers have the highest level of service in the years to come.” The initial investment in the facility will exceed $6.5 U.S. million.
The 23,000 square foot facility will be used to hangar up to three Falcons while Dassault technicians will be trained to perform line maintenance and ‘A’ checks. They will also support an AOG ‘Go Team’ to provide rapid mobile response directly to an aircraft location anywhere in South America with the parts and tools necessary to get a Falcon flying with minimal delay.
The facility will have spare parts and tooling inventory for all current production Falcon models. In addition, spares and tooling will be in place for out of production models such as the Falcon 10, Falcon 20 and Falcon 50 that are still operating in significant numbers in South America.
Evolving Service
Dassault Falcon’s customer support network in Brazil has been evolving over the past several years. In 2005, a second Two Field Technical Representatives was added to assist South American based and transient customers with their technical needs. One representative is based in Sao Paulo.
In 2007, Dassault and Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) positioned a PW308C ‘bank engine’ at Sorocaba Airport. The PW308C powers the Falcon 2000EX EASy, 2000DX and the future 2000LX. It recently passed 150,000 flight hours and has proven to be highly reliable and efficient.
In addition to Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dassault Falcon has company owned service centers in Le Bourget, France; Wilmington, Delaware and Little Rock, Arkansas. There are also 30 Authorized Service Centers in Dassault’s worldwide customer support network.
Sales in Brazil Continue to Soar
By the end of 2008, the in-service Falcon fleet is expected to increase to 22 aircraft, the biggest share of the large-cabin market of any OEM. “Increased international trade, a robust economy and a strong Real are the biggest drivers for the growing business aviation market in Brazil,” continued Rosanvallon. “And at a time when the cost of oil is over $120 per barrel and jet fuel costs increase unabated, a Falcon’s fuel efficiency is very much appreciated. The cost of fuel continues to be a big factor in the process of acquiring a business jet.” Falcon business jets burn 20%-40% less fuel than all other large cabin airplanes.
Dassault Falcon finished 2007 with 212 firm orders worldwide, the third consecutive year of record sales and growing a backlog that is the deepest in business aviation. “The results were a tremendous statement to the benefits of business aviation which are now only being understood in some areas of the world,” said Rosanvallon.
During LABACE, a Falcon 2000EX EASy and Falcon 900EX EASy will be on display at the Congonhas Airport static display.
Dassault Falcon is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout the world. It is part of Dassault Aviation, a leading aerospace company with a presence in over 70 countries across 5 continents. Dassault Aviation produces the renowned Mirage and Rafale fighter jets as well as a complete line of Falcon business jets. The company has assembly and production plants in both France and the United States and service facilities on both continents. It employs a total workforce of over 12,000. Since the rollout of the first Falcon 20 in 1963, over 1,950 Falcon jets have been delivered to more than 65 countries worldwide.
The family of Falcon jets currently in production includes the tri-jets — the Falcon 900DX, 900EX, 900LX and the7X — as well as the twin-engine Falcon 2000DX and 2000LX.
