| A number of years ago several groups of individuals | | | | technology which allows assembly line construction of |
| decided that the world of aviation was ready for | | | | the 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, be | | | | these projected efficiencies, Eclipse will still need to |
| operated by one pilot, carry 4-5 passengers at | | | | produce at least 500 aircraft per year to break even. |
| 41,000 feet over 1,000 nautical miles, and operate off | | | | But Eclipse is not the only player in this game. Cessna |
| of small municipal airports with runways only 3,000 | | | | Aircraft 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 taxi | | | | manufacture the Honda Jet, Embraer the Phenom |
| operators and owner/pilots making the transition | | | | 100 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 will | | | | manufacturers pursuing this market. |
| explode producing thousands of aircraft over the | | | | To understand the issue it should be noted that in |
| next ten years, or it is just a new way for investors | | | | 2006 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 the | | | | annual rate of 840 business jets for 2006. For Eclipse |
| United States will not be able to accomodate all of | | | | to 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 same | | | | competition it faces. For the most part Eclipse, and |
| altitudes as commercial airliners, few will venture into | | | | the new dot commers, feel the market lies in the air |
| the major airports. After all, the advantage of these | | | | taxi business. This is a market where small jets |
| new small jets is their ability to operate out of the | | | | operate frequently from and to small airports which |
| smaller satellite airports in many communites | | | | are closer to businesses. To accomplish this goal |
| throughout the United States. Further, there is still a | | | | requires a large number of aircraft because each of |
| lot of sky out there, and it is unlikely to overburden | | | | these 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 there | | | | So, the questions is, is this to be another dot com |
| really is a market for these aircraft. One | | | | bust, or the dawn of a new era in aviation? Only |
| manufacturer, Eclipse Aviation, is manufacturing a | | | | time will tell. |
| new aircraft recently certified by the FAA using new | | | | |