Dassault Falcon Jet Breaks Ground on Little Rock Expansion

New Hangars Dedicated to Completion of New Falcon 5X and Falcon 8X

September 2, 2014 (Little Rock, Arkansas): Dassault Falcon Jet broke ground today on a major expansion and upgrade of its Little Rock, Arkansas completion facility dedicated to two new models, the Falcon 5X very large body twin jet and ultra-long range Falcon 8X trijet.  Introduced in October 2013 and May 2014 respectively, the new models will significantly expand the Falcon fleet and meet customer demand for additional range and cabin space.

Scheduled to be completed by early 2016, for initial 5X and 8X deliveries, the $60 million project will add 250,000 sq ft of new production and completion space, bringing the total facility footprint to 1.25 million square feet. The cabinet, upholstery and headliner shops will also be refurbished and older hangars upgraded.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, Vice Chairman Little Rock Airport Commission Jesse Mason and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, as well as Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier, Chief Operating Officer Loïk Segalen and Dassault Falcon Jet President and CEO John Rosanvallon.

"This undertaking demonstrates a commitment to continue our investment in Little Rock and to ensure the facility will remain at the forefront of completion technology," said Trappier. "Little Rock is not only the company's largest industrial plant, it is also an industry leader in digital completion techniques, which Dassault pioneered."

"Dassault has been completing Falcons in Little Rock for more than 40 years," said Rosanvallon. "Over that time span it has built up a wealth of completion know how and experience that is unrivalled in the industry and is so critical to the quality and reputation of Falcon aircraft."

"Dassault's Little Rock facility brings international attention to the strength of our state's aerospace sector," Governor Mike Beebe said. "We are proud to include Dassault among the world-class companies that call Arkansas home, and we appreciate its Little Rock workforce whose skill and hard work made this expansion possible."

The expansion follows a $20 million 116,000 sq ft upgrade in 2008 that added four new state of the art paint bays, along with new production, design and warehouse space, to accommodate the very long range Falcon 7X.

History of Little Rock

The history of the Little Rock facility dates back to 1975. In that year, 'Falcon Jet Corp.' - then a Dassault Aviation/Pan American Airways joint venture - purchased Little Rock Airmotive, a 61,500 square foot hangar and office facility, and integrated it into its global production line.