Dassault’s New Business Jet; Boeing Sees Opportunity in Mid-market Aircraft and More
Dassault Aviation to Build New Long-Range Business Jet
Dassault Aviation has announced its plan to develop new long-range business jet (Falcon 6X). The aircraft will cost $47 million and will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW800 engines.
Falcon 6X will enter into service in 2022. Dassault earlier scrapped its Falcon 5X model citing delays in Silvercrest engines by Safran.
Boeing Sees Opportunity in New Mid-market Aircraft
As reported by Flightglobal, the head of Boeing’s commercial aircraft division said that Boeing sees big opportunity in new mid-market aircraft with 200 to 270 seats and up to 5,000 nm range.
However, Boeing is still discussing with its customers to gauge the demand for aircraft and has not yet announced any official plan for this project.
AirAsia to Sell its Aircraft Leasing Unit for $1.18 billion
AirAsia will sell its aircraft leasing unit to BBAM (a US-based firm) for $1.18 billion. This move is a part of AirAsia’s plan to spin off its noncore airline assets.
Under this deal, BBAM-managed funds FLY Leasing, Incline B Aviation, and investment bank Nomura Babcock & Brown, will acquire a fleet of 84 aircraft and 14 engines from AirAsia.
AirAsia will then lease back 79 aircraft and 14 engines from BBAM to its affiliate airlines in India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Philippines.
France Announces New Signals intelligence (SIGINT) Aircraft Program
France has announced a new signals intelligence (SIGNIT) aircraft program that will replace its two aging Transall C-160G Gabriel aircraft.
The new aircraft, named Epicure will be based on Dassault’s Falcon business jet platform and will enter into service from 2025.
Other Major Updates for Today
- Airbus Helicopters has partnered with Traxxall Technologies. As a part of this deal, all new Airbus helicopters delivered in the US and Canada will include Traxxall’s aircraft maintenance tracking and inventory management system.
- American Airlines will introduce its ‘basic economy fare’ on flights to Europe beginning April, 2018.
- Canadian government is evaluating its options whether to replace aging fleet of ‘VIP aircraft’ that’s used to transport prime minister and other high-level officials.
- Emirates cancels flights to UK, Ireland amidst bad weather conditions.
- Aerovironment and Maxar Technologies’ MDA subsidiary has been selected by Canadian department of national defense to provide small UAS for Canadian Navy.
- Boeing in partnership with Australia’s Queensland state government will develop and test its autonomous drone systems there.
Originally published at aviationoutlook.com on March 2, 2018.
