| A number of years ago several groups of | | | | certified by the FAA using new technology |
| individuals decided that the world of | | | | which allows assembly line construction of |
| aviation was ready for another revolution - | | | | the aircraft with fewer employees than the |
| the introduction of very light jets. These | | | | traditional manufacturing method of riveting |
| jets would weigh less than 10,000 pounds, be | | | | aluminum. Despite these projected |
| operated by one pilot, carry 4-5 passengers | | | | efficiencies, Eclipse will still need to |
| at 41,000 feet over 1,000 nautical miles, and | | | | produce at least 500 aircraft per year to |
| operate off of small municipal airports with | | | | break even. But Eclipse is not the only |
| runways only 3,000 feet long. | | | | player in this game. Cessna Aircraft Company |
| | | | has certified its Cessna Citation Mustang, |
| These new aircraft are known as very light | | | | and others are getting close. Adam Aircraft's |
| jets - vljs and are expected to be purchased | | | | A 700 jet is close, and Honda will |
| by air taxi operators and owner/pilots making | | | | manufacture the Honda Jet, Embraer the Phenom |
| the transition from piston or turboprop | | | | 100 and now Piper Aircraft has introduced its |
| aircraft to turbojets. Depending upon whom | | | | new Piper Jet. There are presently some |
| you listen to this market will explode | | | | twelve manufacturers pursuing this market. |
| producing thousands of aircraft over the next | | | | |
| ten years, or it is just a new way for | | | | To understand the issue it should be noted |
| investors to lose millions of dollars in | | | | that in 2006 a total of 629 business jets |
| another dot com bust. | | | | were manufactured in the first three |
| | | | quarters, which works out to an annual rate |
| Some worry that the air transport system in | | | | of 840 business jets for 2006. For Eclipse |
| the United States will not be able to | | | | to sell 500 new very light jets per year |
| accomodate all of these new aircraft, a fact | | | | would clearly be a major accomplishment, |
| which is probably untrue. While these new | | | | considering all of the competition it faces. |
| vljs will operate at the same altitudes as | | | | For the most part Eclipse, and the new dot |
| commercial airliners, few will venture into | | | | commers, feel the market lies in the air taxi |
| the major airports. After all, the advantage | | | | business. This is a market where small jets |
| of these new small jets is their ability to | | | | operate frequently from and to small airports |
| operate out of the smaller satellite airports | | | | which are closer to businesses. To |
| in many communites throughout the United | | | | accomplish this goal requires a large number |
| States. Further, there is still a lot of sky | | | | of aircraft because each of these small jets |
| out there, and it is unlikely to overburden | | | | seats only 4 or 5 passengers. Another |
| the present system. | | | | problem is where the pilots will come from. |
| | | | |
| A more significant concern is whether or not | | | | So, the questions is, is this to be another |
| there really is a market for these aircraft. | | | | dot com bust, or the dawn of a new era in |
| One manufacturer, Eclipse Aviation, is | | | | aviation? Only time will tell. |
| manufacturing a new aircraft recently | | | | |