Harco general manager Michael Milardo said his company would support the Eclipse EA500–for now. Harco makes the airspeed probes for the compact very light jet. Milardo said his company is planning to participate in the Eclipse Aerospace suppliers conference scheduled for October 27 in Albuquerque, N.M., and will work with Eclipse’s new owners and current aircraft operators. However, Milardo said he suspected that the prices of replacement components for the aircraft are going up–way up.

“Our prices–and I suspect everyone else’s prices–on [components] for this airplane were based on sales volumes that never materialized,” he said, estimating that the price of replacement airspeed probes for the Eclipse would have to at least double for his company to be able to continue to supply them. He also said certain Eclipse operators object to Harco’s requirement that the probes be recalibrated every two years.

Milardo defended the recalibration as critical to the continued safe operation of the aircraft. Harco, which manufactures pitot probes and sensors for a variety of aircraft, is here at Booth No. 1826.