Falcon 7X Suspension of Flight Ops
Join Date: May 2011
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Warning: Old logic & experience don't necessarily apply!
While pulling the trim cb WAS a good idea in the past, doing so in this aircraft would be my absolute last resort (and no collar would be necessary, as they are all virtual CBs, many of which are grayed out, not allowing the pilot to mess with them)!!! There are numerous switches and computer coding that can really ruin your day when you stumble across them unexpectedly. These new flying computers do not lend themselves to pilot techniques of old - be careful! Follow the established procedures in exactly the correct order, or you will find you have become a test pilot and have probably created a handful of additional problems for yourself.
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Latest Update
The pitch runaway problem has not yet been resolved however Dassault has provided the following information regarding the May 25th incident and how they’re dealing with the problem. While descending through 12,000 feet at 300 kias, the incident aircraft experienced an uncommanded pitch up and climbed to 23,000 feet. At that point, the crew was able to regain control and declared an emergency. A normal landing followed at its destination airport in Malaysia.
Dassault has advised that all appropriate resources have been diverted from their normal duties to focus solely on finding this event’s cause and deploying a solution. They have a team of engineers from their flight test centre and design office and a customer service team on-site with the incident aircraft. Additionally, an engineering response team has been created and is on duty 24/7 to collect and analyse the aircraft’s data.
Dassault cannot give an accurate estimate on when the fleet will return to service.
Dassault is in the process of defining a procedure intended to allow the conduct a safe ferry flight to a convenient destination of the operator's choice. This procedure is being tested but not yet validated. Dassault's target is to have it approved early in the week.
Dassault has advised that all appropriate resources have been diverted from their normal duties to focus solely on finding this event’s cause and deploying a solution. They have a team of engineers from their flight test centre and design office and a customer service team on-site with the incident aircraft. Additionally, an engineering response team has been created and is on duty 24/7 to collect and analyse the aircraft’s data.
Dassault cannot give an accurate estimate on when the fleet will return to service.
Dassault is in the process of defining a procedure intended to allow the conduct a safe ferry flight to a convenient destination of the operator's choice. This procedure is being tested but not yet validated. Dassault's target is to have it approved early in the week.
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This is interesting to visualize. If you're descending, the power is usually at or near idle. To pitch up and gain 11,000 Ft seems unprecedented.
Any comments from 7x pilots? Anything special about the auto throttles, AP disconnect, pitch trim, elevator control, or anything about the fly-by-wire that could cause this?
As a G550 pilot, I'm hoping I can get Gulfstream to issue an ASC to install cables and pulleys in my new G650!
FR
Any comments from 7x pilots? Anything special about the auto throttles, AP disconnect, pitch trim, elevator control, or anything about the fly-by-wire that could cause this?
As a G550 pilot, I'm hoping I can get Gulfstream to issue an ASC to install cables and pulleys in my new G650!
FR
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"Also, the French Air Force has one that flies the President!"
Two of the Republique Francaise ones parked up at Deauville yesterday, I assumed they were left over from the G8 summit.
Two Russian ones there as well.
Two of the Republique Francaise ones parked up at Deauville yesterday, I assumed they were left over from the G8 summit.
Two Russian ones there as well.
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Nigeria’s new N7bn presidential jet banned worldwide
By Agency reporter
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Almost 70 days after the new N7.65bn presidential jet, Falcon 7X, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from the manufacturer’s factory in France, Dassault Aviation, France European authorities have banned the jet from flying in Europe and other parts of the world over safety issues.
The ban, an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, which was issued on Thursday by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the agency that regulates Dassault as well as the European aviation industry, took immediate effect, starting from May 27.
The EASA’s grounding of the worldwide fleet of Dassault’s Falcon 7X executive jets came hours after one of the aircraft encountered an in-flight anomaly that could have caused the pilots to lose control.
The EASA directive, which was published on Thursday, said that the jet “experienced an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent. The crew succeeded in recovering a stable situation and performed an uneventful landing.”
An analysis of the plane’s Digital Flight Data Recorder and Fault History Database confirmed the event, EASA said, but the cause of the pitch trim runaway couldn’t be explained.
“This condition, if it occurs again, could lead to the loss of control of the aeroplane,” the EASA notice said.
However, the Cologne, Germany-based safety agency said in its Emergency Airworthiness Directive that the decision to halt all flight operations of Dassault’s flagship jet came at the request of the Paris-based company, according to a Dow Jones report on Friday.
The plane was en route between Europe and Malaysia, Asia, with no passengers on board, Dassault spokesman Stephane Fort told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone.
The pilots managed to regain control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Malaysia, he said. Fort couldn’t say who owns the aircraft or who was operating it.
Fort said the decision to ground the aircraft was a precautionary measure.
Dassault has sent a team of technicians to Malaysia to try to identify the cause of the problem, he said, adding, “Our priority is the safety of our passengers and our aircraft.
The Falcon 7X was introduced in 2007 and is designed to fly 5,950 nautical miles with at least eight passengers. There are 112 of the aircraft in service.
“This airworthiness directive is considered to be an interim measure pending the outcome of the investigation currently carried out by the manufacturer,” EASA said.
The Falcon 7X has a sticker price of about $50m, depending on cabin features.
President Goodluck Jonathan had in the third week of March 2011, taken delivery of a Falcon 7X plane, shortly after it landed on the shores of the country from France.
The aircraft, which was manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, cost the government $51m (about N7.65bn.)
The Federal Executive Council had on August 12, 2010 approved $102m for the purchase of two Falcon 7X and $53.3m for one Gulfstream G550 aircraft to beef up the presidential fleet.
The second Falcon 7X, it was learnt then, was expected to arrive in the country during the second quarter of this year.
In what is probably its first mission, the jet was said to have conveyed the wife of the President, Patience, to Sokoto during the third of week of March.
The two Falcon 7X aircraft are to be supplied by Messrs Dassault Aviation of France, while the Gulfstream G550 will come from Messrs Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of the United States
(Interesting how the reporter used the word ban instead of grounded)
By Agency reporter
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Almost 70 days after the new N7.65bn presidential jet, Falcon 7X, touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from the manufacturer’s factory in France, Dassault Aviation, France European authorities have banned the jet from flying in Europe and other parts of the world over safety issues.
The ban, an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, which was issued on Thursday by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the agency that regulates Dassault as well as the European aviation industry, took immediate effect, starting from May 27.
The EASA’s grounding of the worldwide fleet of Dassault’s Falcon 7X executive jets came hours after one of the aircraft encountered an in-flight anomaly that could have caused the pilots to lose control.
The EASA directive, which was published on Thursday, said that the jet “experienced an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent. The crew succeeded in recovering a stable situation and performed an uneventful landing.”
An analysis of the plane’s Digital Flight Data Recorder and Fault History Database confirmed the event, EASA said, but the cause of the pitch trim runaway couldn’t be explained.
“This condition, if it occurs again, could lead to the loss of control of the aeroplane,” the EASA notice said.
However, the Cologne, Germany-based safety agency said in its Emergency Airworthiness Directive that the decision to halt all flight operations of Dassault’s flagship jet came at the request of the Paris-based company, according to a Dow Jones report on Friday.
The plane was en route between Europe and Malaysia, Asia, with no passengers on board, Dassault spokesman Stephane Fort told Dow Jones Newswires by telephone.
The pilots managed to regain control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Malaysia, he said. Fort couldn’t say who owns the aircraft or who was operating it.
Fort said the decision to ground the aircraft was a precautionary measure.
Dassault has sent a team of technicians to Malaysia to try to identify the cause of the problem, he said, adding, “Our priority is the safety of our passengers and our aircraft.
The Falcon 7X was introduced in 2007 and is designed to fly 5,950 nautical miles with at least eight passengers. There are 112 of the aircraft in service.
“This airworthiness directive is considered to be an interim measure pending the outcome of the investigation currently carried out by the manufacturer,” EASA said.
The Falcon 7X has a sticker price of about $50m, depending on cabin features.
President Goodluck Jonathan had in the third week of March 2011, taken delivery of a Falcon 7X plane, shortly after it landed on the shores of the country from France.
The aircraft, which was manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France, cost the government $51m (about N7.65bn.)
The Federal Executive Council had on August 12, 2010 approved $102m for the purchase of two Falcon 7X and $53.3m for one Gulfstream G550 aircraft to beef up the presidential fleet.
The second Falcon 7X, it was learnt then, was expected to arrive in the country during the second quarter of this year.
In what is probably its first mission, the jet was said to have conveyed the wife of the President, Patience, to Sokoto during the third of week of March.
The two Falcon 7X aircraft are to be supplied by Messrs Dassault Aviation of France, while the Gulfstream G550 will come from Messrs Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of the United States
(Interesting how the reporter used the word ban instead of grounded)
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It might seem that way.
Systems are highly integrated.
But Honeywell had nothing to do with the design, development and mfg of the flight control systems themselves.
Digital Flight Control System
Systems are highly integrated.
But Honeywell had nothing to do with the design, development and mfg of the flight control systems themselves.
Digital Flight Control System
Last edited by Zeffy; 30th May 2011 at 14:06. Reason: added link to movie
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Figures - the incident aircraft is the last Falcon 7X that was delivered - the aircraft is operated by Jet-Link AG Switzerland registered HB-JLN it is operated on behalf of Wallenmount Ltd of Hong Kong - which is actually owned by Tan Sri AK I possibly of Kuala Lumpur??
Actually came across a lawsuit filed in New York regarding this owner and aircraft against Dassault - no idea what that is about; Wallenmount Limited v. Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Photo of aircraft landing at Kuala Lumpur;
photo by S.M. Tang of Kuala Lumpur/and Malaysia Wings
MalaysianWings - Malaysia's Premier Aviation Portal
Actually came across a lawsuit filed in New York regarding this owner and aircraft against Dassault - no idea what that is about; Wallenmount Limited v. Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. :: Justia Dockets & Filings
Photo of aircraft landing at Kuala Lumpur;
photo by S.M. Tang of Kuala Lumpur/and Malaysia Wings
MalaysianWings - Malaysia's Premier Aviation Portal
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A 7x owner files a lawsuit? Is this an example of fine Dassault customer service a few of you were talking about?
Yet another indication as to why Dassault has been at the bottom of the list every single year for the past ten years when it comes to customer satisfaction.
FR
Yet another indication as to why Dassault has been at the bottom of the list every single year for the past ten years when it comes to customer satisfaction.
FR
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Correct names mentioned or not, it really does not help anybody to mention names involved in these kind of things... That goes for pilots and/or owners names involved in incidents, accidents etc.
Do you guys, assuming you are actually flying corporate jets, normally speak about owners names with complete strangers? That would be a fast track to getting the boot in most companies I know of....
CP
Do you guys, assuming you are actually flying corporate jets, normally speak about owners names with complete strangers? That would be a fast track to getting the boot in most companies I know of....
CP
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Being as there is no indication of what the lawsuit might be about, and there is probably no airframer out there that has not had many over the years, its totally irrelevant that one has been filed against Dassault.
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F7X
Its a Great Shame this has happened its a fantastic machine was at Bordeaux and lots of 7X arriving last week as if they knew they were about to be grounded.
They will fix it for sure, just may take some time
They will fix it for sure, just may take some time
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01 JUN 2011
June 1 Falcon 7X Update: EASA and FAA Approve Ferry Procedure
On Monday, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Flight Condition Approval Sheet (FCAS) which outlines procedures to conduct ferry flights on the Falcon 7X for European registered aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a similar approval on Tuesday, an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC), to authorize ferry flights for U.S. registered aircraft.
Dassault's investigation has confirmed that the Falcon 7X control laws operated normally which has allowed development of a safe ferry procedure using Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) normal mode. The on-site investigation of the aircraft that experienced the anomaly is complete but did not reveal the root cause. Further analysis of the trim control equipment from that aircraft is underway at Dassault Aviation’s laboratories in France.
June 1 Falcon 7X Update: EASA and FAA Approve Ferry Procedure
On Monday, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Flight Condition Approval Sheet (FCAS) which outlines procedures to conduct ferry flights on the Falcon 7X for European registered aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a similar approval on Tuesday, an Alternative Method of Compliance (AMOC), to authorize ferry flights for U.S. registered aircraft.
Dassault's investigation has confirmed that the Falcon 7X control laws operated normally which has allowed development of a safe ferry procedure using Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) normal mode. The on-site investigation of the aircraft that experienced the anomaly is complete but did not reveal the root cause. Further analysis of the trim control equipment from that aircraft is underway at Dassault Aviation’s laboratories in France.
Safely back home
LG