The Dassault 6X arrives at EBACE 2023.
GENEVA—Dassault Aviation has completed flight testing its Falcon 6X business jet and expects EASA to grant type certification “in the coming weeks,” says Éric Trappier, company chairman and CEO.
Certification authorities have all of the requested files, so once EASA has certified the aircraft, Trappier expects subsequent certification from U.S., Canadian, British and Chinese authorities.
The 5,500-nm-range 6X logged 1,480 hr. over 580 flights during the test program since its first flight on March 10, 2021.
“All ingredients are now in place to achieve a successful entry into service,” Trappier says.
CAE’s training center in Burgess Hill, England, has added the first full-flight 6X simulator, where the first class of pilot certification classes should soon start.
Dassault’s MRO network “is prepared with parts and training,” Trappier says. Theoretical maintenance training at CAE Merignac started in April and will start this quarter in the U.S.
By the end of this year, Dassault plans to have four of its company-owned MROs set up for heavy maintenance, as well as 11 lines of base and line maintenance and three aircraft on ground (AOG) go teams.
The OEM flew 6X serial number three to Geneva for EBACE using sustainable aviation fuel.
The larger Falcon 10X, which has a 7,500-nm range and top speed of Mach 0.925, also in development is scheduled to enter service in 2025, although supply chain problems in the industry could affect that.
Carlos Brana, executive vice president of civil aircraft, says Dassault has completed 300 simulated flights on the 10X and has started the production of some aircraft parts, including a prototype of the aircraft’s all-carbon fiber wing.
The 10X’s Rolls-Royce Pearl engines are scheduled to fly on a Boeing 747 testbed later this year.
FlightSafety will be the training provider for this aircraft.
