Dassault Aviation, a part of French aerospace company Groupe Dassault, has drawn up an ambitious map for expansion in the Indian market. The company, which has a majority share in the Indian business jet market, is looking at setting up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre next year. Its business jets are sold under the ‘Falcon’ brand name.
“We have a 60 per cent share in the business jet market in India (around 120 private jets are in operation so far), which is growing rapidly. We now plan to set up an MRO centre in Hyderabad for their quality service and spares,” said Thierry de Poncins, international sales director, Falcon Business Jets.
It was in talks with some Indian companies to set up an MRO facility jointly, he said without naming any. Dassault Aviation is owned 50.21 per cent by Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault of France. Talking to Business Standard on the sidelines of Aero India 2011 today, he said the company had delivered 30 Falcon jets in the last 15 years and would deliver another 15 business jets in the next two years. Almost half of the new aircraft orders are for the Dassault Falcon 7X, the first business jet certified with a fully-digital flight control system. Also, the company is in talks with various charter operators for another 20 business jets.
