Business aviation company BSS Africa, part of the Elegance Group, has, in cooperation with renowned French group Dassault Aviation, brought a Dassault Falcon 7X executive jet to South Africa as part of its marketing strategy. “Our aim with this introduction to the market is to change mindsets and open corporate aviation to a wider market – it’s not just for governments or high end businesses,” BSS Africa CEO Max Hussmann told Engineering News Online.

The company is focused on long-range flight and not on domestic operations. It handles charters, fractional ownership and other services. It currently owns two executive aircraft which are based in Europe.

“We have a very close relationship with Dassault and there is the possibility of bringing an aircraft to South Africa, which could be for sale as well as for charter,” he stated. A sale was not, however, the company’s main concern. “We’re offering a more affordable option [in corporate aviation].”

The Falcon 7X type first flew some ten years ago. Today, more than 250 are in service around the world. It is the longest ranged member of the Falcon family, capable of flying some 10 000 km. The aircraft brought to South Africa is fitted with the latest (2015) standard cabin. A Falcon 7X can carry up to 19 passengers, but the cabins are normally configured for between 12 and 14 passengers.

“It’s a very comfortable aircraft – it flies above the weather, even when heavy. It has a cruising altitude of 12 000 m (41 000 ft) and can reach 15 000 m near the end of the flight,” reported Dassault test pilot Philippe Rebourg. “It’s easy to fly. It’s a fly-by-wire aircraft with side-stick control columns. It has an excellent flight management system. The flight control system prevents the pilot from exceeding safe flight parameters. The fuel efficiency is very high. The maximum fuel capacity is 32 000 lb, or a little under 15 000 kg.”

What makes the Falcon family instantly recognisable is the fact that they are all powered by three engines, instead of the two usually found on executive jets. “Because it has three engines, it can continue on to its destination even if one engine fails. Three engines also allows unrestricted trans-oceanic flight,” he pointed out.

When crossing an ocean, twin-engined business aircraft are constrained by Extended-range Twin-engine Aircraft Operations (Etops) restrictions. “This aircraft has no Etops restrictions,” highlighted Hussmann. “So it can fly nonstop across oceans without restrictions.”