Dassault Aviation has announced that its new Falcon 6X business jet has officially entered service, with the type’s first customer accepting delivery of their new aircraft on November 30, 2023.
Type certification for the latest model in the Falcon family of business jets was obtained in August 2023 and granted jointly by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since August, the aircraft has been undergoing post-certification upgrades that EASA required as part of that process.
The Falcon 6X was first unveiled in a virtual broadcast on YouTube by Dassault Aviation in 2020. Certification of the Falcon 6X follows a two-year-long flight test program involving 1,500 flight hours being logged at various locations worldwide.
The type completed its maiden flight in March 2021 and subsequently began the test campaign ahead of certification. The 6X passed through each phase of the testing process successfully and was initially scheduled to enter into service by the end of 2022. However, pandemic-related delays mean that its service entry was delayed.
The Pratt & Whitney PW812D engine received certification from Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) as the certifying authority for Pratt & Whitney Canada in December 2021, and Dassault announced the aircraft was projected for commercial entry into service by the end of 2023.
With its entry into service, the Falcon 6X becomes the most spacious type of aircraft operating in the long-range business jet market, excluding the Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ families.
In October 2023, Dassault revealed that the 6X would enter into service equipped with a new flight planning tool called ‘FalconWays.’ The tool allows Falcon pilots to choose the most fuel-efficient route and reduce excess fuel using updated global wind data, optimization, and performance model-specific algorithms. The aircraft also features an advanced digital flight control system with digital flight surface control.
The Falcon 6X has approach speeds as low as 109 knots and can operate out of small airports with runways of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) or less. In addition to ultra-low noise levels, the 6X also features a cabin altitude as low as 3,900 feet (1,188m) at a cruise level of 41,000 feet (12,500m).
“Dassault Aviation shares this remarkable occasion with its customers, who are sure to receive an exceptional aircraft,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Éric Trappier.
With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up a solid global reputation for the design, development, sale, and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter to the high-end Falcon family of business jets. In 2022, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €6.9 billion ($7.5 billion) and employs 12,700 people.
