Dassault Aviation is working hard to get better control of its supply chain as it targets increasing deliveries of its Falcon business jets to 35 this year, bringing the total closer to the pre-Covid delivery tally of 40 units in 2019. Announcing 2023 financial results today at a Paris press conference, the French manufacturer said it handed over 26 Falcons last year.

That was six fewer aircraft than in 2022 and missed its guidance set last March for 35. The shortfall was reflected in an almost 31 percent dip in revenues last year, which fell to €4.8 billion ($5.2 billion) from €6.9 billion in 2022.

Dassault also was slightly short in deliveries of Rafale fighters, with 13 handed over instead of the projected 15 units. Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier pointed to supply chain issues for the declining deliveries. “It’s more complicated for the Falcons because there are several supply chains with different suppliers for the 8X, 900LX, 2000LXS, 6X, and also 10X,” he noted.

Last year, Dassault collected orders for 23 new Falcons, which was just over a third of the 64 units booked in 2022. “We’re selling pretty well in the U.S., not so much in Europe,” Trappier said.

Meanwhile, Dassault has high hopes for its in-development Falcon 10X, which is now expected to be certified and enter service in 2027.

Duncan Aviation’s Dallas satellite shop recently started performing repairs to commercial cargo drones, the company said Tuesday. The first Duncan Aviation service facility to add the capability, the satellite shop provides scheduled and unscheduled work, troubleshooting, wire harness repair, GPS signal inspection, and replacement of failing components on UAVs.

With the increased popularity of the use of commercial drones in the U.S. for aerial photography and delivery of items such as groceries, medicines, and food, Duncan sees an opportunity to meet the growing demand for maintenance in the UAV sector.

As Duncan Aviation works to anticipate industry needs, the company said, it continues to research and invest in additional resources to keep expanding the services associated with emerging technology.

“We are excited to begin serving customers who are investing in this emerging technology,” said Mark Cote, v-p of Duncan Aviation components, services, and satellites. “Providing services for UAV operators is an extension of our core business and a good example of how we grow and innovate to better serve the industry and our customers as they evolve.”

Along with complete facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah, Duncan operates 30 satellite stations throughout the U.S.

Recently, eVTOL aircraft developers Joby and Archer announced they have secured FAA Part 145 approvals as they prepare to support their vehicles.

The UK’s Department for Transportation (DfT) has launched a consultation over possible changes to nighttime aircraft noise limits at London Stansted, Heathrow, and Gatwick airports. The proposals would most immediately impact Stansted Airport, where there could be a new cap on the quota count (QC) limit for noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

This so-called "bridging regime" would be in force at Stansted between October 2025 and October 2028 while the government completes its aviation night noise effects (ANNE) study that could result in wider policy changes at London Heathrow and Gatwick. The consultation closes on May 22, 2024. Following delays attributed to recovery from the Covid pandemic, the ANNE report is not anticipated until late 2025, and so the DfT intends to leave restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick unchanged for now.

However, it said it has to review the limits at Stansted in light of a separate planning permission granted in June 2021 that allowed for an increase in the number of passengers using the airport annually to 43 million (within the existing movement limit of 274,000). This decision called for a new night QC limit to be introduced for the summer 2026 season, and the government now feels compelled to reconcile its wider noise limits for the UK capital’s airports with this requirement.

Air-to-ground connectivity specialist SmartSky said sales and installation partner Davinci Jets Services has completed a first-article installation of the SmartSky Lite system on a Beechcraft King Air 350. The expected FAA supplemental type certification would mean the FAA certified 18 additional King Air models for SmartSky installations, representing nearly 2,000 in-service tails.

The first-article King Air previously used the Gogo Avance L3 before its replacement with the SmartSky Lite system.

This project marks the third SmartSky STC installation by Davinci Jets Services, a full-service MRO operated by North Carolina-based aircraft management firm Davinci Jets. Davinci recently completed first-of-type installations of a SmartSky Flagship system on a Cessna Citation Latitude and SmartSky Lite on a Pilatus PC-12. It also has begun work on installing a SmartSky Lite system on a first-of-type Citation CJ4.

"An increasing number of our customers are asking for SmartSky because of the unmatched capability of its connectivity,’” said Davinci Jets CEO Eric Legvold. “What’s different and so much easier about SmartSky is there is no preset limit to the number of devices connected, unlike the legacy ATG systems. We can have watches, cellphones, and computers connected as if you were in your office. Plus, customers can use their cellphones to make calls without any special app and stream on any device, all without paying additional fees or subscriptions.”

C&L Aerospace has bought two Cessna Citation Sovereigns and two Citation XLSs for teardown, the Bangor, Maine-based MRO provider said Monday. C&L has started the disassembly of two of the aircraft following the teardown of the first two in Bangor.

“With these aircraft, we are launching a tip-to-tail parts program for Sovereign and XLS operators,” said Chris Kilgour, CEO of C&L Aviation Group. “We recognize the scarcity in the market for these particular aircraft parts, so we are making investments now and in the future to be a reliable partner for those looking to source parts in the aftermarket.”

C&L said it plans to purchase and disassemble several more Sovereigns and XLSs over the next several years.

The parts will undergo inspection and be readied for sale. The process includes photographing and barcoding each part and its corresponding documentation before sending them as viewable links on all customer quotes, promoting more transparency during the buying process.

The FAA has awarded its next tranche of grants to help foster the development of pilots, maintenance technicians, and other aviation professionals. In all, the agency granted $13.5 million to 32 schools in this latest round of funding under two congressionally-authorized programs to support training for the next generation of the aviation workforce. 

A dozen schools will receive a combined $4.5 million from the FAA’s Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Developments Grants program. This funding can be used on curriculums that prepare students to become pilots, aerospace engineers, or drone operators. In addition, the grants may support professional development of teachers.

Located across the country—from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to Grant Pass, Oregon—the selected schools received grants of up to $500,000 each.

Meanwhile, the FAA awarded $9 million to 20 schools through its Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development program. The agency underscored the importance of restoring the maintenance technician pipeline. Some 20,000 fewer people work in the aircraft maintenance sector than before the Covid-19 pandemic, the FAA said.

Similar to the pilot grants, the maintenance technician program awarded up to $500,000 to individual schools. These grants can be used to establish educational programs, provide scholarships or apprenticeships, conduct outreach about careers in the aviation maintenance industry, and support educational opportunities for those in economically disadvantaged areas.

The AIN Media Group team will be at Booth 1706 at the Schedulers & Dispatchers conference on March 12 to 14, 2024. Stop by and say hello to our team, grab copies of our publications, and enter to win a bottle of Air Vodka, courtesy of Air Company. News for NBAA S&D 2024 can be sent to Curt Epstein.