By Rebecca Rayko
AWN Editor

NEW ORLEANS - There were no major announcements on the development of a supersonic business jet, but manufacturers at NBAA 2000 insist it's still a concept being actively explored.

With the future of the world's only supersonic transport still in the balance, the development of a SSBJ has again taken center stage.

However, the same environmental, technical and economic hurdles to building and selling a SSBJ remain.

Dassault Aviation, which last year scrapped its plans for a Falcon SST, says it's still exploring supersonic technology for its Falcon Jet line.

"We never stopped working on it," says Bruno Revellin-Falcoz of Falcon Jet. Dassault has made technical in-roads on non-engine items in the meantime (see related story).

Dassault is "still in discussions with four engine manufacturers" but there has been no real progress, says Revellin-Falcoz. Equipping a three-engine Falcon SST for a "reasonable price" is the key.

"And in order to determine market interest in a Falcon SST, we need a price first," Revellin-Falcoz says.

Boeing is also actively pursuing a supersonic version of the BBJ.

"Big Boeing has studied that extensively," BBJ president Borge Boeskov said. "We are looking at how we can put a SSBJ in the air. There is nothing to announce here, but we are actively looking at it."

Gulfstream's Bill Boisture echoed the sentiment expressed by Boeskov.

"A solid business case exists" for a supersonic Gulfstream, Boisture said. "We're studying technology that addresses boom suppression over land and new propulsion systems."

Gulfstream has responded to two RFPs from DARPA for federally funded studies of a supersonic transport, said Boisture.