Rosanvallon Retiring; Betbeze Named Dassault Falcon CEO

Dassault Aviation has appointed Thierry Betbeze the new CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet, its U.S. business aviation subsidiary. He will replace John Rosanvallon, who is stepping down after a 44-year career with the French OEM.

Rosanvallon, who will serve as special senior advisor to Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier during a transition period, led DFJ for the past 23 years from its Teterboro Airport base in New Jersey. In the role, he headed sales, marketing, and support activities for the Americas, growing the Falcon fleet and brand recognition.

“John has built a record of success for the Falcon Jet business and our industry,” said Trappier. “We are pleased we can continue tapping into the wealth of business jet market experience he has accumulated to help improve and expand the Falcon line in the future.”

Betbeze, who has been senior v-p of finance at DFJ since 2016, began his career at Dassault Aviation in 1984 as a cost accountant. He switched to export financing with responsibilities that included treasury and currency hedging before being promoted to senior v-p of finance in 2004.

“Thierry’s…extensive experience in international finance…will ensure the enduring success of the Falcon brand in today’s demanding business aviation environment,” said Trappier.

Trappier Reflects on Bumper Falcon Sales Since Flat 1H

Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has reflected on a sudden, unexpected flourish of Falcon sales in July and August following what was a “very flat” first-half performance, selling only seven business jets in that six-month period. By August 31, the French manufacturer had sold 26 year-to-date, taking the backlog to 56 Falcons, with 23 delivered—“a book-to-bill of greater than one,” he said.

Overall, the company has a €19.2 billion ($21.04 billion) backlog, while it recorded €286 million ($313.3 million) first-half income on just over €3 billion ($3.29 billion) in sales, including Falcon business jets and Rafale fighters. Available cash as at the end of June 2019 was €4.8 billion ($5.26 billion) with expenditure continuing into the ramp-up for 6X production and other projects, such as its expanded service network from the recent acquisitions of facilities from Execujet, TAG Aviation, and Ruag.

Trappier said Falcon sales in most parts of the world were “a bit flat," the exception being the U.S. He expressed hope for China and the rest of Asia, where Dassault continues to invest.

The 6X program is “progressing in line with schedule” for service entry in 2022, said Trappier—work has started on wing subassemblies while four Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engines are in test. Finally, he said work continues on the “Future Falcon,” but it remains “confidential…We’re working on it.”

Textron Aviation’s Zurich Service Center Marks 50 Years

Textron Aviation recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Zurich, Switzerland service center. The facility was one of two in Europe that it acquired in December 2012 from General Dynamics FBO, aircraft charter, maintenance, completions, and staffing services provider subsidiary Jet Aviation. At the time of the acquisition, the Zurich center served as a Cessna Citation Service Center until Textron wrapped up its acquisition of Beechcraft in 2014 and began servicing that brand, as well as Hawker.

In the intervening years, the Zurich center has grown and expanded its capabilities to include comprehensive maintenance and paint capabilities. Services include routine checks and inspections, in addition to extensive avionics and interior upgrades. A mechanical shop at the center performs wheel, brake, and battery repair and exchange, as well as servicing of major structural components.

It also offers foreign repair approval and is certified by the FAA, EASA, and other international regulators.

U.S. Military Helos Mobilize To Help Bahamas

The U.S. military is stepping up the tempo of its relief efforts in the Bahamas after that island nation was lashed by Hurricane Dorian over the weekend. On Monday and Tuesday, U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews from Air Station Clearwater (Florida) flew more than 60 medevac and rescue missions with a quartet of Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters that had been forward-based in the Andros Islands. The medevac missions largely involved moving patients from Marsh Harbour to Nassau.

U.S. Customs and Border protection UH-60s from that service’s Air and Marine branch deployed yesterday from Miami and began flying rescue missions as well. More than 40 Army helicopter crews from Fort Hood, Texas, have been moved to forward positions at Fort Rucker, Alabama. A search-and-rescue center has been established at Moody AFB, Georgia.

The U.S. defense agencies are working in cooperation with the Bahamian National Emergency Management Agency and the Royal Bahamian Defense Force. As early as later today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is expected to make a formal request of U.S. Northern Command for additional assets to be deployed in the Bahamas. Additionally, several private groups and charities are marshaling air assets, including seaplanes, to fly in relief supplies. The pastor of Miami’s Greater St. Paul AME church said the congregation had assembled a fleet of seven seaplanes to fly in relief supplies. 

Bombardier Highlights New Miami Center at M&O USA

Bombardier Business Aircraft wrapped its 2019 Maintenance and Operations (M&O) USA Conference late last week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, highlighting progress on its under-construction 300,000-sq-ft service center in Miami, as well as providing support updates on its latest models such as the Global 7500.

The event, held August 27 to 29, drew 125 customers and operators and included educational sessions and updates on key programs. It provided a venue for attendees to engage in operational discussions, gaining and sharing insights with Bombardier and other operators.

“In-depth customer-driven events such as these offer an essential channel to share important information about our products and services,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft v-p and general manager of customer experience Jean-Christophe Gallagher. “They are invaluable in helping us provide the best service experience possible.”

The conference took place as Bombardier is building a new center at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport to provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, aircraft modifications, avionics installations, and AOG support for Learjets, Challengers, and Globals. Bombardier broke ground on the center late last year and anticipates it will be operational next year.

In addition, Bombardier is quadrupling its space in Singapore and has been adding line maintenance stations, including in Dubai and at London Biggin Hill. The company further has expanded its mobile truck response team and added a Challenger 300 to the mobile support efforts.

Volocopter eVTOL Flies Autonomously at Intl. Airport

A prototype for Volocopter’s VoloCity has made what the German company says was the first autonomous flight by an eVTOL aircraft that was fully integrated into the air traffic management (ATM) system at an international airport. The flight at Finland’s Helsinki International Airport took place on August 29 to demonstrate the ability of Volocopter’s 2X prototype to be safely integrated with both the ATM and the unmanned aircraft traffic management (UTM) system while operating in very-low-level (VLL) airspace.

The aircraft has been participating in the Gulf of Finland U-space project organized under the Single European Sky ATM Research (Sesar) program to assess how autonomous air-taxi flights can be safely operated in urban environments, including airports. Volocopter is now preparing for another public demonstration of the VoloCity prototype at Stuttgart Airport in Germany on September 14.

In Helsinki, Volocopter performed a series of tests with three different UTM service providers—AirMap, AltitudeAngel, and Unifly. The company integrated the necessary software and position report sensor for the trials, which involved ground tests and both unmanned and piloted flights.

In October, the Sesar team is due to present the results of the Gulf of Finland trials, which also involved flights around the Estonian capital Tallinn.

Dallas BBJ MRO Specialist Sees Rising Trend

Maintenance provider King Aerospace Commercial Corporation (KACC) has seen an uptick in business for the third consecutive year, with the Dallas-based bizliner specialist on track to provide 40 MRO and interior refurbishments on Boeing business aircraft alone. That compares with 29 the previous year and 10 in 2017.

“Strong markets, access to capital, and new tax rules are contributing drivers to business aviation’s upturn, but our forward momentum underscores the strong relationships we build with customers,” said company president Jarid King. “While people have long known us for our excellent paint services, the word is getting out about the value we deliver in interiors, avionics, and maintenance.”

The company is an authorized GE OnPoint service center, providing on-wing maintenance and repair for CFM56-7B-powered BBJs, including line inspections, routine maintenance, and replacement of engines and components.

“We specialize in heavy-iron—BBJs, Boeing 737s, Boeing 757s—a high-demand market segment with a low to no tolerance for error,” noted Wayne Jamroz, KACC’s general manager of operations. “These sophisticated, mission-critical aircraft require the highest levels of service.”

Airplus, Hensoldt Sign New Distribution Agreement

MRO provider Airplus Maintenance GmbH will distribute Hensoldt’s new ED155 lightweight crash recorders (LCR)—the LCR100 and LCR200—under a new agreement between the two companies. Hensoldt’s LCR units combine voice, data, and image recording in a single device weighing about one kilogram (2.2 pounds). Data captured by its LCRs include flight altitude and direction, engine temperature and speed, and voice communication from the cockpit.

Germany-based Airplus is currently seeking an STC from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the first aircraft types—such as the LCR100 for the Cessna 208 Caravan—by the end of the year, followed by FAA validation. “Airplus’s expertise in systems integration and its experience in getting approval for customized solutions are optimal preconditions for successful cooperation,” said Hensoldt head of avionics Stefan Kolditz.

Based at Friedrichshafen Airport, Airplus provides MRO services for business and general aviation aircraft. It also specializes in VIP and special-mission aircraft and holds EASA approval for Part 21J (design), Part 21G (production), and Part 145 (maintenance) services.

Count on AIN for Full Coverage of NBAA

As ever, you can count on AIN for full coverage of NBAA-BACE 2019. Our team will publish three of our award-winning daily NBAA Convention News editions at the show on October 22, 23, and 24. We will also have comprehensive real-time reporting of all the top news at AINonline.com and in our daily e-newsletters. If you are an exhibiting company that wants to share news or propose pre-show interviews and briefings please contact show editor Chad Trautvetter.