Falcon 2000S yet to join state fleet

Sources in the state civil aviation department said preliminary formalities regarding the deal was over and the company had shown interest in the deal. Its representatives had also given a demonstration of the aircraft before the department officials.

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“But when the company was invited in January to finalise the deal, its representatives did not turn up claiming that they were busy. Later on, communications were sent to the company by the chief secretary, principal secretary (Civil Aviation) and director of civil aviation, but the company said the same thing,” said a civil aviation official.

Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan confirmed that the company has not turned up to finalise the deal citing lack of time.
Thierry de Poncins, International Sales Director of Dassault Aviation, Falcon Corporate Jets, in a reply through an email on August 26, said: “We have no comments.”

The Uttar Pradesh government has recently procured two aircraft, a 9-seater airplane and a helicopter with a similar seating capacity — worth Rs 124 crore — from US-based firms to bolster its ageing fleet. While the Super King Air B-250 airplane, worth Rs 40 crore, landed in Delhi a few days ago, the Bell 412 EPI helicopter, worth Rs 84 crore, will be delivered in October. Sources, however, said the CM was more keen on having Falcon 2000S aircraft as part of his fleet.

Falcon 2000S

* Jet-propelled aircraft can cruise at 900 km per hour and can fly from India to US in one go without refueling.
* 10-seater aircraft with advanced features that provide more comfort to passengers.
* Room-size spacious cabin and comfortable sofa-size chairs, one among which could spread out as a double bed.
* GPS-enabled screen displays the location of aircraft to passengers. In other aircraft, only the pilot can access such information based on calculating the coordinates.