Business jet operator Gestair Aviation Malta tasked ExecuJet MRO Services Belgium to complete a major project on its Dassault Falcon 7X that included installing a Starlink system and antennae, performing an avionics upgrade, an engine change, exterior repainting and a cabin refurbishment.

The owner of the aircraft is Constructor Group, which offers comprehensive educational programmes along with advanced research and innovation, and is founded and chaired by Singaporean businessman Serg Bell.

The operator chose ExecuJet's Kortrijk facility in Belgium because it was the first company in the world to install the Starlink satcom system on a Falcon 8X, according to ExecuJet MRO Services' regional VP for Europe Matthijs Hutsebaut.

“It was a new customer for us, but they were confident in our abilities because of our reputation of installing Starlink efficiently and because we're a one-stop-shop that can make the most of the downtime to complete a significant amount of additional work,” he says.

ExecuJet upgraded the 7X's avionics system from EASy II to EASy IV. “This is arguably the most challenging upgrade because of the amount of new wiring needed to be installed due to the complexity of EASy IV over the EASy II,” reveals ExecuJet Europe's lead engineer Bram Depuydt.

EASy IV is a far more advanced avionics system that includes a new Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which makes more extensive use of satellite navigation for better situational awareness.

ExecuJet also carried out a borescope inspection and engine change on the aircraft, cleaned the fuel tanks and completed component work on the landing gear. In addition, exterior painting was carried out followed by the application of Permagard, a polymer-based treatment, to protect the airframe's exterior.

The cabin refurbishment included installing new carpets, reupholstering the seats, side ledges and the ceiling panel in the passenger cabin, as well as some areas in the cockpit.