Leading aerospace firm Dassault Falcon Jet operates its largest facility in the world in Little Rock and continues to invest in Arkansas. 

Situation

Dassault Aviation is a worldwide leader in aircraft development and manufacturing – producing more than 10,000 military and civil aircraft, including 2,700 Falcon Jets, over the past century. Dassault Falcon Jet has operated in Arkansas since 1975 when it opened its aircraft completion facility in Little Rock. Since its opening, the Little Rock facility has delivered more than 1,000 aircraft. The company employs approximately 1,400 workers across two facilities in Little Rock. The company operates its main Completion Center – its largest facility in the world – in Little Rock. All Falcon jets are flown in “green” – or uncompleted – to Little Rock after being manufactured in France to have optional avionics and custom interiors installed and have exteriors painted. Dassault also operates a Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) service center in Little Rock. At the service center, employees inspect, modify, maintain, repair, and complete Falcon Jets.

CHALLENGE

Demand for Dassault Falcon Jet’s product line, particularly their business jets, was increasing. In March 2023, Dassault Falcon Jet leadership revealed that the company was looking to expand to meet the demand for their product line. Little Rock was one of the contenders for this competitive economic development project. The company faced multiple challenges, including renegotiations of a long-term ground lease, plus hiring and training hundreds of skilled workers. During the site selection process, Dassault Falcon Jet considered other states in addition to Arkansas.

 

Solution

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state economic development leaders met with Dassault Falcon Jet executives at the 2023 Paris Air Show to discuss the expansion project. The discussions laid the groundwork for future talks with Dassault Falcon Jet. Following the Paris Air Show, state and local economic development officials – from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and the Little Rock Regional Chamber – continued to work with Dassault Falcon Jet to bring the expansion project to Arkansas.

Results

Dassault Falcon Jet executives gathered in December 2023 with Governor Sanders, AEDC officials, and local leaders to announce that the company would expand its facility in Little Rock. Dassault will be investing approximately $100 million and creating 800 jobs as part of the expansion. The expansion will support the development and delivery of the Dassault 6X business jet and future Falcon programs.

Read the full case study.