While the Middle East represents only about 5 percent of general aviation worldwide, the region is poised for growth given its size, the different businesses that exist, and the fact that companies typically have dealings in several countries in the region and increasingly have to connect to Europe, the U.S., and Asia. That\u2019s according to Dassault Aviation international sales director Renaud Clo\u00e2tre, who is based in Dubai.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowth potential is enormous because the region is underequipped,\u201d Clo\u00e2tre said. \u201cIf you look at general aviation\u2019s structure in Europe or the U.S., there\u2019s clear growth potential in the Mideast. We are in an economy where the energy market is actually changing relations between Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. The value of oil is increasingly recognized. Oil prices are increasingly relevant, underlining oil\u2019s true value. It\u2019s needed. There is also a requirement to use it wisely and not burn too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegional transition, as you\u2019ve seen in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as in other countries, is taking place. The UAE has changed over the past 10 years. Change has taken place all over the region. When you move towards change, you need the tools for it, and business jets are one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the Falcon 7X\u2014of which Dassault sold six to Saudia Private Aviation\u2014has been a tremendous success. \u201cThe 7X and 8X are fantastic aircraft, going all the way from here to continents. People in Saudi Arabia love three-engine aircraft. They love the stability of fly-by-wire. The Saudi market is very complex, in terms of actors and operators. It\u2019s a big country, a big domestic market; it\u2019s distance they need.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, if you look at all the missions general aviation can perform\u2014transporting people, goods and materials, or medical evacuation\u2014many things are required in Saudi Arabia. Given the Vision 2030 plan and infrastructure changes in the kingdom, it will be a completely different proposition in years to come. That will give us big development opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Setting aside the UAE and Saudi Arabia, he also sees opportunities elsewhere in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). \u201cIt\u2019s developing and changing, and not just because oil provides the backbone,\u201d Clo\u00e2tre said. \u201cThese countries are evolving. Regional transformation plans offer opportunities everywhere. I\u2019ve also worked in Egypt, which has plenty of wealthy companies. Have you been to Cairo lately? New Cairo and the administrative capital are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said his work in the Middle East is a spread. \u201cLet\u2019s say we have activity in all these countries because we can actually respond to different missions in different countries\u2014it\u2019s government flights, private flights, or special missions. It\u2019s an entire portfolio. You\u2019ve got the GCC and up to Pakistan. Then it\u2019s from Turkey to Egypt. Israel is not my territory. There\u2019s always a need, somewhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Turkey has also proved to be an excellent market for Dassault. \u201cIstanbul is a very good market,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a strong presence in Turkey. The Falcon 6X had a very good reception. The 6X has significant experience in Turkey with long-time owners, who have also availed themselves of the wider Falcon portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n
Face to Face<\/p>\n
Clo\u00e2tre said the pandemic had been a period of ups and downs, with the regional economy fluctuating.<\/p>\n
\u201cCovid showed that you cannot just rely on your computer and say: \u2018Okay, I\u2019ve got Zoom, I\u2019ve got Skype, I\u2019ve got whatever, and I can do my business from home,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not really the case. You have to be on-site talking about business. You have to be able to check what\u2019s going on at your facilities on the other side of the world; you have to deal with your client and you have to interact. Covid showed that private aviation is a very strong tool, not only for business. We\u2019ve seen the sanitary measures taken by Dassault in France and in Europe. Although unseen, these are an important part of aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He underlined the ability of the Falcon 8X, which is on static display this week at MEBAA 2022 (Static Display A21), to fly from New York or Washington direct to Abu Dhab. The 10X, officially due for delivery in late 2025, will be an even better option. \u201cOn the way back, when the headwinds get stronger, you need the 7,500-nautical-mile range of the 10X, if you want to do it nonstop,\u201d he said. \u201cOtherwise, you make a 30-minute fuel and customs stop in Shannon, and you can fly fast between the stops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dassault has noted that its large-cabin models such as the 6,450-nm Falcon 8X comprise a third of the 75 Falcons in the region. That fleet is expected to grow once the Falcon 6X and 10X reach the market in coming years.<\/p>\n
The Falcon 6X is due to enter service in mid-2023. \u201cYou have a mix of demand, for which the 6X is ideal,\u201d he said. \u201cIt can perform a variety of missions, from long-range to short-range, but the key is that it takes you to your destination. Given generations of our clients, what\u2019s more important today, apart from avoiding distress, is the journey from door to door. In a single day, you can, for example, have meetings in three cities. Most importantly, the Falcon offers valuable flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dassault has received strong interest, including a \u201csignificant number of orders\u201d from the Middle East for the 6X. Several deliveries are lined up to the region shortly after the wide-cabin model enters service, the French airframer said, adding the 6X is in the final stages of flight testing.<\/p>\n
As its fleet continues to grow, Dassault Aviation is expanding its service capabilities in the region. In 2019, Dassault acquired the worldwide maintenance activities of Luxaviation subsidiary ExecuJet, which plans to open a 15,000-sq-m (163,000-sq-ft) FBO-MRO at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW) early next year.<\/p>\n
Serving operators in the Gulf region, the facility at OMDW will be able to accommodate between 18 and 24 aircraft simultaneously and will be qualified to handle a full range of MRO activities, from line maintenance to major overhauls.<\/p>\n
ExecuJet will offer services for other OEM aircraft in addition to Falcons, including both regionally-based and in-transit aircraft. To serve as ExecuJet\u2019s regional headquarters, the complex is replacing ExecuJet\u2019s base maintenance at Dubai International Airport (OMDB). However, the OMDB location will continue to provide AOG services.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a strong investment in OMDW with our three hangars,\u201d he said. \u201cThis investment aims to bring us closer to our clients in terms of maintenance; clients can go to Dassault Dubai as easily as to Paris Dassault Falcon Service. The development of OMDW\u2014the initial OMDW master plan\u2014is gradually bearing fruit. There\u2019s certainly a transition from OMDB to OMDW. I think the government has phased it well. It\u2019s a transition which I welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dassault also has a spare parts distribution center in Dubai and added an engineering office in Cairo. <\/p>\n
Source AINOnline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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