Dassault Aviation’s new flagship Falcon 8X jet has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), preparing the way for service introduction of the big new tri-jet.

Certification from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the US is expected in the coming weeks, with entry into service in the early fourth quarter of this year.

“We’ve broken new ground with the 8X,” said Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO. “Not only did we meet customer demand for an aircraft combining increased range and cabin volume with the technological prowess of the popular 7X, but we were able to get it to market fully mature and tested in a remarkably short period of time, and exactly within our production schedule.”

In late April, Falcon 8X s/n 03 completed a global proving tour designed to demonstrate aircraft capabilities under different conditions of operation with a particular focus on cabin comfort and connectivity. 

The 65-flight 55,000-nautical mile campaign took the aircraft to 46 destinations, from North, Central and South America to Europe, the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia. Missions varied in length, from 18 minutes to 14 hours, including ultra-long range flights from Singapore and Sao Paulo to Paris and from New York in the US to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The aircraft experienced a full range of flight conditions, from hot weather and extreme cold (-33°C) to extra high and low humidity environments.

A total of 26 test and operational pilots took part in the tests, along with more than 60 engineers, technicians and flight attendants.

“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 Olivier Villa, Senior Vice President, Dassault Aviation Civil Aircraft. “Moreover, new innovations in aircraft insulation will allow us to further lower cabin noise compared to the Falcon 7X, currently the quietest aircraft in the industry.”

The three aircraft used in the flight test programme are now being redeployed following the completion of the flight test and certification campaign, which totalled over 830 hours over 400 flights.

S/n 01 will be used to certify Dassault’s FalconEye Combined Vision System (CVS) on the 8X and to gain approval for its use in Dual Head Up Display (HUD) configuration. Dassault’s FalconEye is the first HUD in the industry to blend synthetic and enhanced vision capabilities, offering unprecedented situational awareness. Its utilisation in Dual HUD mode will be another first in business aviation. The two approvals are anticipated in the fourth quarter 2016 and late 2017 respectively.

Meanwhile, production is continuing to ramp up to meet growing demand for the aircraft. Serial number 26 is currently in final assembly at the Dassault’s Mérignac production plant near Bordeaux in France. Twelve aircraft are already in cabin outfitting at the company’s completion facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, US.

Derived from the popular Falcon 7X, the ultra-long range Falcon 8X has a range of 6,450 nm (nearly 12,000 km), allowing it to fly passengers comfortably from Dubai to New York, Hong Kong to London or Moscow to Los Angeles non-stop. It will also share the 7X’s exceptional operating economy and short-field performance.

In addition to the quietest cabin and the most advanced digital flight control system in business aviation, the new tri-jet will feature the largest selection of standard cabin configurations of any large business jet.

Dassault Falcon is the recognized global brand for Dassault business jets which are designed, manufactured and supported by Dassault Aviation and Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation.