A new revolution in aviation or another dot com bust?

A number of years ago several groups of individualstechnology which allows assembly line construction of
decided that the world of aviation was ready forthe aircraft with fewer employees than the traditional
another revolution - the introduction of very light jets.manufacturing method of riveting aluminum. Despite
These jets would weigh less than 10,000 pounds, bethese projected efficiencies, Eclipse will still need to
operated by one pilot, carry 4-5 passengers atproduce at least 500 aircraft per year to break even.
41,000 feet over 1,000 nautical miles, and operate offBut Eclipse is not the only player in this game. Cessna
of small municipal airports with runways only 3,000Aircraft Company has certified its Cessna Citation
feet long.Mustang, and others are getting close. Adam
These new aircraft are known as very light jets -Aircraft's A 700 jet is close, and Honda will
vljs and are expected to be purchased by air taximanufacture the Honda Jet, Embraer the Phenom
operators and owner/pilots making the transition100 and now Piper Aircraft has introduced its new
from piston or turboprop aircraft to turbojets.Piper Jet. There are presently some twelve
Depending upon whom you listen to this market willmanufacturers pursuing this market.
explode producing thousands of aircraft over theTo understand the issue it should be noted that in
next ten years, or it is just a new way for investors2006 a total of 629 business jets were manufactured
to lose millions of dollars in another dot com bust.in the first three quarters, which works out to an
Some worry that the air transport system in theannual rate of 840 business jets for 2006. For Eclipse
United States will not be able to accomodate all ofto sell 500 new very light jets per year would clearly
these new aircraft, a fact which is probably untrue.be a major accomplishment, considering all of the
While these new vljs will operate at the samecompetition it faces. For the most part Eclipse, and
altitudes as commercial airliners, few will venture intothe new dot commers, feel the market lies in the air
the major airports. After all, the advantage of thesetaxi business. This is a market where small jets
new small jets is their ability to operate out of theoperate frequently from and to small airports which
smaller satellite airports in many communitesare closer to businesses. To accomplish this goal
throughout the United States. Further, there is still arequires a large number of aircraft because each of
lot of sky out there, and it is unlikely to overburdenthese small jets seats only 4 or 5 passengers.
the present system.Another problem is where the pilots will come from.
A more significant concern is whether or not thereSo, the questions is, is this to be another dot com
really is a market for these aircraft. Onebust, or the dawn of a new era in aviation? Only
manufacturer, Eclipse Aviation, is manufacturing atime will tell.
new aircraft recently certified by the FAA using new