Eclipse Aviation Earns FAA Production Certificate

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — April 26, 2007 — Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced that it has received its production certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Representatives from the FAA presented the production certificate to Peg Billson, chief operating officer (COO) of Eclipse Aviation earlier today at a ceremony held at Eclipse’s Albuquerque headquarters.

A production certificate allows a company to manufacture aircraft with an FAA-approved type design, and is only granted when the FAA has determined that the organization’s manufacturing processes and inspection systems comply with all federal regulations. Eclipse Aviation is now authorized to issue standard airworthiness certificates for its production aircraft. As is common in the production start-up phase of a new aircraft manufacturer, Eclipse was previously required to submit every aircraft to the FAA for approval before delivery.

“Earning our FAA production certificate means we have successfully built a reliable, high-quality manufacturing process, and are well positioned to expedite aircraft deliveries,” said Peg Billson. “Our employees, customers and investors can have confidence that we are gaining momentum in production as more and more Eclipse 500s go out the door and into the hands of our customers. This is a critical milestone in our journey to become a high-production aircraft manufacturer.”

The FAA production certificate approval process is very rigorous, and includes the exhaustive evaluation of an organization’s manufacturing processes, quality control and production inspection system. A team of FAA inspectors fully audits the organization and production facilities, and examines approved design data for compliance. If the FAA finds inconsistencies, there are follow-up audits to ensure corrective actions were taken and integrated into ongoing systems and processes.

“We appreciate the professionalism and dedication the FAA has demonstrated throughout this initiative, and look forward to advancing Eclipse 500 aircraft production under our now FAA-approved system,” commented Billson.

Sales call for the jet set

BY CHRIS FLORES
247-4738
April 25, 2007

NEWPORT NEWS — It looked a bit like a CEO conference had made its way to Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

The line of sleek corporate jets in front of Mercury Air Center, which provides fuel and services to private planes, was part of a Tuesday seminar. It was the first time Bank of America and a group of jet companies had brought the event to Virginia.

The bank specializes in financing and arranging corporate jet acquisitions and leasing. Consultants who advise companies on choosing aircraft and the companies that manufacture and own the planes were also on hand to make their case for using private aircraft.

The aviation experts are riding a growing trend of companies shunning commercial air travel for the ease and speed of private aircraft. In particular, firms are increasingly embracing fractional ownership, where they own a portion of a plane in return for rights to use one at any time.

“These are time machines,” said James Dickerson, a senior vice president in Bank of America’s Corporate Aircraft Finance division. “The value to the owner is that it helps them manage their time.”

Some large local companies such as Northrop Grumman and Ferguson Enterprises use private jets. But there’s not a huge local corporate client base that regularly flies, said Mike Agee, general manager at Mercury Air Center.

Many of the executives coming through Mercury Air are executives at retail chains checking on the Hampton Roads developments that have popped up in recent years.

“This area’s probably geared a lot to the retail market,” said Agee.

In part because of Anheuser-Busch and Kingsmill, executives will often use the airport for Williamsburg trips. “This is the gateway to Williamsburg for corporate travel,” Agee said.

Fractional ownership is also the trend amongst most Hampton Roads firms. There aren’t many local corporations that own their own corporate aircraft, said Agee, besides Smithfield Foods and a few other companies.

Fractional ownership means buying a small piece of the value of a plane. That gives the company a right to use the plane on very short notice. The leader in the field, NetJets, was in Newport News Tuesday to drum up some new business.

Private jet advocates like to remind executives of the worst aspects of the commercial flying experience: taking off their shoes for airport security, waiting for a flight that might not be on time, possibly switching planes on long layovers and losing luggage.

Not only can an executive avoid these time- and money-wasting slowdowns, they can visit multiple cities in a single day. Unlike commercial aircraft, private planes can land at about 5,000 airports nationwide, getting as close to their destination as possible, Dickerson said.

“They can visit two or three locations and still be home for dinner,” he said.

Another growing trend is jet card membership, which involves depositing a large amount of money to have the right to have a jet available to them anytime they need it. There is an hourly charge for using the plane that is deducted from the account.

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For more information about fractional, jet card or on-demand programs visit www.execcharter.com or call 866.fly.exec.

Aruba Opens Terminal for Private Jets

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba has opened a new airport terminal for private jets in a bid to attract more upscale travelers to the Dutch Caribbean island.

The new terminal, which officially opened Friday, replaces a makeshift terminal that Aruba Airport Authority N.V. installed to begin offering faster service for private planes in 2005.

The US$1.2 million (euro880,000) facility, which has its own customs and immigration counters, is operated by Houston, Texas-based Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. under an agreement with the airport authority.

Peter Steinmetz, managing director of the Queen Beatrix International Airport, said the number of flights increased 21 percent in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last year.

Tourism Minister Edison Briesen said last week that Aruba was recovering from the negative publicity surrounding the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway in 2005 and is on track for a good tourism year.