Very light jets

Eclipse Receives Production OK from FAA
April 26, 2012 - 4:13pm

Charleston, S.C.-based Eclipse Aerospace announced yesterday that it has received a production certificate from the FAA, green-lighting production of the Eclipse 550 very light twinjet. The approval was granted after the agency determined that the company’s manufacturing processes and quality systems meet all federal regulations.

“Armed now with a fully certified aircraft, a certified production process and an established supply chain, Eclipse is well positioned to re-introduce the Eclipse Jet to new production,” said Cary Winter, the company’s senior vice president.

First Conforming Cirrus Vision Jet To Fly in 2014
April 26, 2012 - 4:08pm
First Conforming Cirrus Vision Jet To Fly in 2014

Cirrus Aircraft plans to fly the next iteration of its single-engine SF50 Vision jet in February 2014, according to Todd Simmons, executive vice president of sales and marketing, “although our goal for this first conforming aircraft is to beat that date.”

Light Jet Deliveries Rise in First Quarter, Notes JetNet
April 26, 2012 - 3:51pm

Deliveries of light business jets in the first quarter climbed by almost 60 percent to 30 shipments, compared with 19 a year ago, according to data from Utica, N.Y-based business aviation information provider JetNet. The very light jet segment–in which JetNet includes the Citation Mustang and Embraer Phenom 100–didn’t fare as well, with deliveries dropping from 11 VLJs in first-quarter 2011 to eight this year thanks to three fewer Mustang shipments.

Funding Falls Into Place for Cirrus Jet Certification
April 19, 2012 - 5:50pm
Funding Falls Into Place for Cirrus Jet Certification

Cirrus Aircraft announced yesterday that it has secured funding to complete the composite single-engine Vision SF50 jet from company owner China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (Caiga). Development of the single-engine Vision jet slowed during the recession. When Caiga purchased Cirrus for an estimated $210 million last June, the company said that development of the Vision jet would continue.
MRO Profile: VNE Jet
March 2, 2012 - 4:10am

Other than seeing a ramp full of stored ex-DayJet Eclipse aircraft in 2008 after the collapse of the Florida-based air-taxi firm, it’s rare now to sight more than a couple of the type together at an airport–unless you happen to pass through Henderson Executive Airport near Las Vegas, Nev.

Embraer Delivers First Medevac-equipped Phenom 300
March 1, 2012 - 2:00pm

Embraer delivered the first medevac version of the Phenom 300 jet yesterday, to Amil Resgate Saúde. The aircraft–tail number PP-UTI–is also the 100th Embraer executive jet to be delivered in Brazil. The aircraft OEM installed and certified all of the equipment on the aircraft, including a new interior design and assembly specifically for medical missions. The cabin configuration provides horizontal space for a stretcher and four rotating seats for the medical team and companion, as well as a private aft lavatory.

Eclipse 500…There’s an App for That
February 23, 2012 - 2:05pm

Eclipse Aerospace released a flight-planning and in-flight reference iPad app called Eclipse Quick Reference Application (QRA) yesterday. The app for the Eclipse 500 very light jet includes a weight-and-balance flight-planning tool, interactive flight checklists and performance planning tools. Eclipse QRA can also pull up digital copies of the aircraft flight manual and the aircraft maintenance manual, complete with updated downloads of temporary revisions and other customer communications.
Flight Options Flying Higher
February 16, 2012 - 3:30pm

Flight Options, the second-largest fractional jet provider in the U.S., said 2011 was one of its best years and expects the momentum to continue to build this year. In fact, the Cleveland-based company reported a healthy jump in new fractional owners last year versus 2010.

“One of the statistics from 2011 of which we are most proud is that more than one-third of all new owners came from referrals–a strong and appreciated endorsement from our current owners,” noted Flight Options CEO Michael Silvestro.

Embraer Delivers 300th Phenom
February 16, 2012 - 3:15pm

Embraer recently delivered its 300th Phenom jet, some three years after the first Phenom 100 was handed over. Appropriately enough, the milestone aircraft was a Phenom 300. To date, half of the Phenoms delivered have been taken by North American customers, with Latin American operators accounting for another 30 percent; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), 17 percent; and Asia, 3 percent. The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer delivered 98 Phenoms in 2009, 126 in 2010 and 83 last year.
Cirrus Restructures ND Debt, Presses On with Jet
February 4, 2012 - 3:40am

Cirrus has restructured more than $13 million worth of loan and lease obligations related to its Grand Forks, N.D. production facility with that city’s Growth Fund. Cirrus employs approximately 90 people in Grand Forks who make composite component parts for its SR-series piston aircraft, which are then shipped to the company’s assembly line in Duluth, Minn.

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