Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
Key claim: The FAA proposes requiring operators of certain Dassault Falcon jets to modify or replace cabin seats that can slide without passenger input during taxi, takeoff, or landing, and to stop installing those seats.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reported occurrences of seats sliding without passenger input. The cabin seat track locking mechanism was found to jam in isolated conditions during taxi, take-off, and landing (TTOL). This proposed AD would require modifying or replacing each affected seat. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected seats. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
Uncommanded cabin-seat sliding during taxi, takeoff, or landing is an injury hazard specifically flagged for high-end business jets, and the FAA’s proposed AD would force operators to fix or replace affected seats and stop installing new ones. It is a routine airworthiness action rather than a fleet-wide policy shift, but it adds to a running pattern of cabin-interior ADs on Dassault Falcon models.