Wilmington Facility Latest To Get Expansion Nod

This week, Jack Young, President of Dassault Aircraft Services and Governor Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware announced a multi-year expansion plan at Dassault Falcon's Wilmington facility. The plan includes use of an existing 22,000 square foot hangar for completions and the addition of over 100 employees.

"With Dassault facilities worldwide as busy as ever to meet the unprecedented demand for Falcons," said Young, "we needed a facility that could handle the demands of our completion overflow with a dedicated workforce, an exacting eye to detail and a commitment to the customer."

The completions will at first include NetJets Inc. aircraft for the Falcon 2000 family under a sub-contract agreement with Dassault Falcon's Little Rock Completion Center which is Dassault's primary completion facility. About 12 Falcons will be completed in Wilmington starting in 2008.

In addition, the Wilmington Service Center will add another 30 maintenance and technical personnel by the middle of 2008. Employment at that time will be at about 400 personnel, up from 165 when Dassault purchased the facility in 2001.

Wilmington's service capability will not be effected by the expansion. Over 35 employees are dedicated to the completion work which will double in the next 12 months. The completion components, including avionics, wiring bundles and cabinetry, for each aircraft will be manufactured in Little Rock and shipped to Wilmington for installation.

Once complete, the aircraft will be painted in Wilmington and inspected before being ferried to Little Rock for flight testing and final delivery to the customer.

Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, and is responsible for selling and supporting Falcon business jets throughout North America, South America, and the Pacific Rim countries of Asia (including China).

As ANN reported earlier this week, Dassault Aircraft also announced plans to expand its Little Rock (AR) Service Center.

FMI: www.dassaultfalcon.com