Meanwhile, Dassault earned third-place honors in the Professional Pilot product support survey. Even on the heels of the company’s top-rated 2019 showing, Dassault tied or surpassed its scores in 2020 in the categories of Speed in AOG Service, Cost of Parts and Tech Manuals.
“We have been diligent and determined in our efforts to improve our global service organization,” said Jean Kayanakis, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Falcon Customer Service & Service Center Network. “The coronavirus pandemic has represented a strong challenge to our support organization, but thanks to the ‘whatever-it-takes’ attitude of our employees, we have been able to support our customers to their expectations. We are committed to doing even more to demonstrate the highest standards in customer service—it’s a never-ending process.”
Kayanakis noted that the Dassault customer service organization is now deeply engaged in planning for the entry into service of the Falcon 6X, which takes flight next year. Technical support specialists, maintenance engineers and pilot support teams are working hand-in-hand with Engineering and the flight test team to advise on maintainability and refine procedures as the first several aircraft are assembled. “When the 6X begins flying customers, we’ll have been there through every step of the development process,” Kayanakis said.
Dassault’s rise in survey performance reflects steady, strategic focus on all the various components of customer service, including: expanding its global service center network; improving spare parts availability through 16 distribution centers; reducing spares prices; expanding maintenance training for in-production and classic Falcon aircraft; shifting the well-attended M&O seminar series online; and continuing to deploy Falcon Airborne Support aircraft for AOG customers, even during the most difficult days of the Covid-19 crisis.
These followed a number of other customer support enhancements introduced previously, including FalconResponse — a comprehensive portfolio of AOG support services supported by a pair of dedicated Falcon 900 jets. Available day and night to transport technicians, parts and tools to return an AOG aircraft to service, they can also provide alternate lift to passengers if needed. Dassault remains the only OEM to offer this type of dedicated service.