Seven business aircraft manufacturers are exhibiting their products at this year's Dubai Airshow, underlining the event's status as the show of choice for the promotion of such jets and turboprops.
Just four weeks ago, the National Business Aviation Association's annual Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), considered the ritual gathering of the bizav industry, held in Las Vegas suffered from the absence of some major programs. Gulfstream Aerospace was not exhibiting at all and Dassault Aviation's just-certified Falcon 6X was nowhere to be seen (Dassault was planning to exhibit the 6X but withdrew it from the static display’s list just before the show, citing finishing touches before entry into service).
Both OEMs will have aircraft on Dubai's static display, which may be seen as more secure in comparison—no eco-activist protests are expected. Dubai Airshow may also be seen as a more relevant showcase, one to which actual buyers visit.
“A number of principals, either high-net-worth individuals or heads of corporation, attend the Dubai Air Show or the MEBAA [Middle East Business Aviation Association] show every other year,” says Pascal Bachmann, senior vice president, sales, Europe, Middle-East and Africa at Jetcraft, a specialist in business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trading. “They want to see the aircraft.”
In comparison, NBAA-BACE in the U.S. and the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Europe are rather “industry-meets-industry” shows, he says. “For airframers, there is value in sending some of their team to the shows,” Bachmann explains. “However, they prefer to have aircraft busy with demonstration flights elsewhere.”
In percentage terms, the Middle East accounts for a small portion of business aircraft sales worldwide. “But every sale counts and these are mainly large, long-range jets,” Bachmann says. “Moreover, customers in the region traditionally buy brand new aircraft, or very young pre-owned aircraft.”
The Middle East region will see 141 business aircraft deliveries over the coming decade, including 126 ultra-long range jets, according to Aviation Week Fleet & MRO Forecast data.
Gulfstream is exhibiting the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700 and the large-cabin Gulfstream G500. The company said late last month it is on track to deliver 19 G700s by year-end, assuming the FAA grants G700 certification by early-to-mid December. In September, Gulfstream announced the G700’s range has increased to 7,750 nm at Mach 0.85, or 6,650 nm at Mach 0.90, gaining 250 nm at both speeds over original projections. The G700’s maximum operating speed has also increased to Mach 0.935, from Mach 0.925.
With more than 100 examples in service, the G500 can fly 5,300 nm at Mach 0.85, or 4,500 nm at Mach 0.90.
Gulfstream will be joined by most of its competitors in high-end business jets—Dassault, Bombardier and, to a lesser extent, Airbus.
The just-certified Falcon 6X is about to start a new chapter in the 60-year history of Dassault's business jets. Falcon sales have dwindled for five years and a major factor was the absence of any new model. With the imminent entry into service of the Falcon 6X and the planned inception of the Falcon 10X in 2025, the airframer can legitimately hope to reverse the trend. A mockup of the Falcon 10X's cabin and cockpit will be displayed.
The Falcon 6X offers one of the widest cabins in business aviation, at 102 in., and the tallest, at 6 ft. 6 in. The Falcon 10X will push the bar even higher, as width will stand at 109 in. and height at 6 ft. 8 in.
In addition to conventional windows, a skylight floods the Falcon 6X's cabin with light—and more precisely the entrance area, where the visitor gets the first impression.
An optional privacy suite will offer multiple uses. It can serve as a meeting area during the day, thanks to an adjustable divider enabling two people to talk privately. At night, with the two berthable seats, one passenger can sleep in more secluded comfort.
The Falcon 6X is catching up on cruise speed, with a maximum Mach operating speed of 0.90.
Dassault is also exhibiting a Falcon 2000LXS.
Bombardier is exhibiting the ultra-long-range Global 7500. The aircraft offers a 102-in.-wide cabin and a range of 7,700 nm at Mach 0.925. The company recently marked the delivery of the 150th Global 7500. Also showcased is the super-midsize Challenger 3500.
Airbus has VIP versions of its commercial jets. On the static display, visitors will see the ACJ TwoTwenty, the corporate variant of the A220. Compared to conventional large-cabin business jets, Airbus claims ACJ TwoTwenty buyers will enjoy twice the cabin space for a similar investment.
On Pilatus' static display, the Swiss OEM will promote its upgraded PC-24 light jet. From the beginning of 2024, the new model will offer more payload at an additional 600 lb. or more range at an extra 200-250 nm. The aircraft now has a maximum range with six passengers of 2,000 nm. The new payload capacity stands at 3,100 lb. The overall cabin design was refreshed.
Embraer is exhibiting the Praetor 600, in the super midsize category. The Praetor 600 has a cruising altitude of 45,000 ft., seating for up to nine passengers, a 6-ft.-high interior, fully berthable seating and stowable workstations.
A few days before the show, Textron Aviation was organizing to exhibit a Beechcraft King Air 360 twin turboprop, a Cessna Grand Caravan EX single and a Cessna Citation Latitude midsize business jet.
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