Landmark Aviation last week said it has received FAA approval to modify in-service Dassault Falcon 50 trijets to increase rudder control authority on aircraft equipped with Collins APS-85 autopilot or Pro Line 21 avionics suite. The FBO, MRO and sales, charter and management chain — formed in 2004 through the merger of Garrett, Piedmont-Hawthorne and Associated Air Center — said it will perform the modification work at its Springfield, Ill., maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center. Benefits from the modification include enhanced lateral maneuverability of the aircraft and increased mission capability so operators have greater control in crosswind conditions, according to the company.
Aircraft with this modification have the same rudder travel as the Falcon 50EX, which has demonstrated landing with a crosswind component of 30 knots. By contrast, the demonstrated landing crosswind component for a Falcon 50 is 23 knots. Landmark Aviation is committed to providing equipment and upgrades that will enhance safety for aircraft operators, said Brian Watkins, vice president of engineering at Landmark Aviation. This modification increases the aircraft rudder control a full six degrees. Previously, the improvement was only available to operators as part of a larger modification that also replaced the airplanes engines and avionics suite.
