The Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has disclosed that Ghana’s presidential aircraft, the Falcon 900 Executive Jet, is currently undergoing final tests in France after an extended maintenance and repair process.
Addressing Parliament in Accra on Thursday, November 6, Mr Genfi explained that the aircraft was sent to Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, on March 11, 2025, for a mandatory 24-month and 1,600-flying-hour periodic inspection.
He said the inspection is a compulsory airworthiness requirement aimed at ensuring that all critical maintenance and functional checks are completed before the aircraft is cleared to fly.
“Mr. Speaker, the Falcon 900 executive aircraft was ferried to Dassault Falcon Service in Le Bourget, France, on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, for the 24-monthly and 1,600-flying-hours periodic inspection. This inspection is a mandatory airworthiness requirement that ensures that all main maintenance and due-list tasks compiled for the inspection are completed,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister further explained that corrosion spots were earlier detected within the aircraft’s fuel tanks, which initially delayed its return. Those issues, he said, have since been resolved following extensive repairs.
However, during the inspection process, additional fuel leakages were identified in the right-hand wing tank, leading to further delays.
“After successfully repairing the section of the wing that experienced the leakages, other challenges were encountered while reinstalling the lower panel beneath the wing,” he noted.
Mr. Genfi told Parliament that Dassault Aviation subsequently invited the Falcon wing’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to conduct an on-site assessment and provide technical recommendations to speed up the process. The OEM completed the necessary repairs, and the right-hand wing has now been fully restored.
“Upon completion of the rectification, the aircraft will undergo a leak test of the fuel tanks, a third engine ground run, painting of the wing lower panel, and finally, an acceptance flight will be performed,” he said.
He assured the House that the Falcon 900 executive aircraft would return to Ghana once all required technical tests and safety checks have been successfully completed.
