Worldwide Customer Service & Service Center Network
Dassault Aviation
In 2024, we expanded our Operator Advisory Board from 20 to 24 members for better customer representation. We know people are busy, so when 23 of 24 members showed up for our last OAB meeting, it was a good sign that they valued this dialogue with Dassault.
I occasionally write about the OAB because it means so much to me, personally. It’s an enormous resource for information exchange. The roundtable format gives us a chance to take the pulse of the market, to hear the unfiltered thoughts of business aviation’s leaders: their recent experiences, their expectations, their concerns.
And it’s a two-way street. We update them on new programs—such as how the 6X is performing after nearly two years in service—and then gather further feedback. We frankly discuss remaining support challenges.
So I, for one, am looking forward to our New York City meeting this month.
We’ll welcome new leadership: Michael Higgins, Director of Aviation BNTI corp. , as Chairman; and Rolf Zeller, Head of Group, Air Transport Logistics, ZIC in Switzerland, as Vice Chairman.
We’ll also have new members who bring fresh ideas. I had the pleasure of chatting with one recently, Friedrich-Christian Maushake, head of Volkswagen’s flight department and a captain on the 7X and 8X. I am sure he will be a valuable new voice.
Flight departments today are challenged internally on their efficiency and externally on their image. Volkswagen, with a worldwide footprint, is no exception. However, Volkswagen, like all European car manufacturers, has been under financial pressure and is navigating a challenging transition to electric vehicles.
Friedrich-Christian has been asked to do more with less—and he has. The company has downsized its fleet, yet it remains one of the largest corporate flight departments in the world, comprising two 7Xs, two 8Xs, and two light jets for shorter missions.
The Falcons fly approximately 800 hours a year, a fairly high utilization rate. And they are performing well. But flying more increases maintenance needs. He wants our help in maintaining a high operational tempo, and we expect he will have good ideas to share with us.
You may wonder what results from these meetings. For one thing, the adoption of Starlink, which has now been certified on the first several Falcon 7Xs and an 8X, is expected to grow in usage. We’re nearing a final decision on upgrading platform avionics, which the OAB has advocated.
There is so much more to say about the contributions of the OAB. My deepest thanks to everyone on the board and at Dassault who generously give their time to organize and participate in these invaluable meetings.
Senior Vice President, Worldwide Falcon Customer Service & Service Center Network
Dassault Aviation
