The 175,000 square-foot Dassault facility will accommodate all Falcon models, including the Falcon 10X, and perform major MRO and modifications services on up to 18 Falcon jet models.
Dassault Falcon Jet, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, has announced the decision to construct a new maintenance facility at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB). The project will be a part of the company’s ambitious worldwide expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul network. Construction of the new facility at the Melbourne airport is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023 and the inauguration is set for late 2024.
The 175,000 square-foot Orlando airport facility will accommodate all current Falcon models, (including the new, ultra-long range Falcon 10X, the largest purpose-built business jet), and will be capable of performing major maintenance and modifications services on up to 18 Falcon jet models simultaneously. The new facility is expected to serve customers across North and South America and also other regions.
“This new factory service center will considerably grow our presence in the U.S., positioning us to keep up with demand for state-of-the-art maintenance services as the Falcon fleet grows and as new models such as the Falcon 10X and the extra widebody Falcon 6X enter service,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation. “We extensively evaluated several areas before we found that the business environment in Florida, along with its highly skilled workforce on the Space Coast, to be the perfect combination for this project. We appreciate the cooperative support received from the Governor’s office and the State of Florida. Their support and leadership made this possible,” he further added.
The Melbourne facility will be a heavy maintenance platform capable of handling a full range of inspection, repair and overhaul activities, from line maintenance through C checks, as well as engineering and modification services. It will be equipped with workshops, customer offices and lounges, along with a large warehouse to support the shop activity of Dassault and serve as a regional distribution hub. Additionally, the site will be home to a 54,000-square-foot paint shop.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB), according to the company is just the latest in a series of moves planned to extend and reinforce Dassault Aviation’s global MRO footprint. In 2023 the company’s ExecuJet MRO Services unit will open a new heavy maintenance facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and start building a new heavy maintenance facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with an aim to enhance maintenance offerings in the Eastern Hemisphere. Dassault now has 40 factory service locations and 20 authorized service centers around the world.
Ron DeSantis, Governor, Florida, US., said, “We have made it our priority to invest in our workforce to attract the world’s top companies to Florida. Today’s announcement from Dassault Falcon Jet shows how these investments are paying dividend. This new facility will bring high-paying jobs to Melbourne and lead to strong economic growth throughout Central Florida.”
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Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) is located on Florida’s famed Space Coast and regionally employs about 35,000 people in aviation and aerospace. The airport benefits from excellent technical training dispensed by nearby educational institutions such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and the Florida Institute of Technology.
