Dassault Falcon 2000S On Track for Certification This Year

The Falcon 2000S has completed its first year of flight testing, having logged “nearly 300 flight hours in more than 100 flights,” Dassault announced yesterday. The twinjet so far has confirmed its “expected performance.”

Features include inboard slats and an autobrake system that allow shorter landings.

Dassault is planning to have the $25 million Falcon certified for steep approaches at airports such as London City. The first part of the Falcon 2000S test campaign focused on handling qualities, including stability, stalls, pitch, roll rate and failure mode tests, as well as takeoff with engine failure. In the near future, minimum control speed on the ground and takeoff at minimum speed will be evaluated. Engine air inlet distortion and maximum crosswind will also be assessed.

In later phases of the certification process, engineers will test the aircraft’s anti-ice system and check the integration of the EASy II flight deck. Certification is still slated for “the end of the fourth quarter of 2012.”