Falcon 8X Now Certified For EFVS Operations Down To 100 Feet
Dassault Aviation has announced that its ultra-long-range Falcon 8X business tri-jet recently received EFVS (enhanced flight vision system) certification from the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). EFVS ability provides “operational credit for poor visibility approaches down to 100 feet [30.5 meters],” says Dassault, which notes that besides greatly improving access to airports during bad weather, EVFS capability also significantly enhances fleet efficiency.
Unprecedented Safety & Security
Dassault launched a joint EASA/FAA certification campaign earlier this year to add the EFVS capability to the flagship Falcon 8X, introduced in 2014 and certified in 2016. The 8X supports the EFVS ability through its FalconEye CVS (combined vision system), first made available as option with the 8X in 2017. The feature is also available with Dassault’s short-field 2000LXS and 2000S twin-engine business jets and the 900LX business tri-jet. Dassault plans to make FalconEye available with the upcoming ultra-wide-body Falcon 6X twin-jet scheduled to first fly in 2021 and begin deliveries in 2022.
Dassault bills FalconEye as the first HUD (head-up display) that simultaneously displays separate synthetic, databased-driven terrain mapping and enhanced thermal and low-light camera images. That let pilots “fly approaches in poor visibility conditions with an unprecedented level of safety and reliability,” Dassault says. Dassault also claims FalconEye is the first HUD that lets pilots adjust the split between SVS (synthetic vision system) and EVS (enhanced vision system) imaging areas, which provides an “unprecedented level of situational awareness to the flight crew” in all operating conditions and reduces stress related to bad weather landings.
Coming Soon
Dassault is now working to further enhance the Falcon 8X’s FalconEye option with a dual HUD configuration that supports an “EFVS to land capability” that would let pilots fly a full approach and land without relying on natural vision to view the runway. The company expects to receive approval in 2020. Previously, the 8X earned approval to operate at London City Airport (“one of the world’s most restrictive airfields”) and received implementations of Dassault’s Falcon Sphere II electronic flight bag suite and FalconConnect suite of broadband communications solutions.
Besides the Falcon 8X, 900LX, 2000LXS, and 2000S, Dassault produces the Falcon 7X tri-jet. You'll find numerous pre-owned Dassault jets for sale on Controller.com.
Source: Dassault Falcon
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