Dassault Aviation’s Dassault Falcon Service (DFS) subsidiary officially inaugurated its new maintenance facility in Bordeaux-Mérignac on 10th November. The centre, which is intended to meet increased demand for repair and overhaul services for the Falcon 7X and other new Falcon models, has been up and running since mid-October. The first Falcon arrived on site on 17th October and was returned to its owner on 28th October.

Located at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, adjacent to the Dassault Aviation assembly plant, the new complex will add 49,000m² of additional Maintenance Repair & Overhaul (MRO) space, including a 7,200m² hangar, and will be capable of accommodating up to six Falcon 7X, 8X or 5X aircraft at a time. It will complement DFS’s existing installations at Le Bourget airport near Paris, which have recently been expanded and modernized.

Dassault explains that the immediate priority of the new facility will be to handle the expected C Check ramp-up for the Falcon 7X. The 7X fleet leaders are now approaching their first heavy maintenance check, scheduled once an aircraft reaches eight years of service. More than 250 aircraft are now in operation.

The facility is also designed to handle a range of other scheduled maintenance activities besides C Checks, including structural repair, cabin refurbishment and modifications, avionics upgrades, carpentry and paintwork.

DFS Mérignac is able to draw on engineering resources and specialists from the nearby Dassault Aviation assembly plant and other companies in the surrounding area.