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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 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
Loik 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.
In the early seventies, FedEx founder Fred Smith
had used Little Rock Airmotive to convert a fleet
of Falcon 20 aircraft to cargo transports that
he used to launch the now famous overnight delivery
service. So when Falcon Jet Corp. acquired the
facility, its workforce was already familiar with
the Falcon product line. Making Little Rock even
more attractive was a large pool of artisans skilled
in cabinetry, carpentry, leather goods, upholstery
and a range of other related activities.
In 2010, Dassault Falcon Jet received approval
from the FAA for the use of 3D data during the
completion process, making it the first OEM to
receive approval for both 3D type design and completion.
In addition to enhancing quality, 3D completion
provides an opportunity for the customer to visualize
the final configuration of the aircraft.
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